#I went through a spell of playing Resident Evil games last year | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

shintorikhazumi · 4 years ago

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Sleeping Beau-

A/N: Happy Birthday Leoooooooo

I KNOW I’M OVER A MONTH LATE I’M SORRY ;-;

MAKING IT A TWO(?)-SHOT SO THAT CONGRATS ON YOUR GRADES TOO YEY! (Also because It was getting too damn long)

k. that’s all from me. Sorry for the meh quality and sorry in advance for all the mistakes and plotholes. I’m getting rusty. Forgotten how to write.

Enjoy?

~Shintori Khazumi

[Okay, how about a Mayakuro "remake" of seeping beauty? Where Claudine is all like "Tendo Maya give me that sword, I can do this shit myself" and wasn't in a coma like sleep but that it was just a rumour or something. ...she'd be so confused for a minute, no one told her that the princess would have that much of an attitude.]- Was the request, hihi.

“Sleeping Beau-”

“A princess... in a tower, oh so far away from me. This dear princess, deep in slumber, oh how much I long to see...”

“... Is this because you want to use her as reference for your new play?” A certain brunette mumbled through a mouthful of food she’d managed to smuggle in while on duty.

“Dame Aijo... It’s not like that.”

“I thought I heard you ask that vendor girl earlier for the location because you had plans to visit.”

“Shut up, Karen!” The bespectacled playwright frowned, scribbling down her latest line. “And how do you even know about that?” Junna narrowed her eyes at the knight who merely shrugged. Junna clicked her tongue, turning back to her sheets of paper. “I’m just a little curious, is all!” She defended, mumbling incoherent complaints to herself.

“But Miss Junna, the last time you used actual people as references for your script, you got scolded by Hikari.” Karen reminded, resting her head in her palm as she watched Junna jot down more lines, more notes for her newest work.

“Th-that was only because she didn’t like how I stared at you or Mahiru for too long! I couldn’t help it! I have to study my subjects intently to fully grasp their characters and way of life, and embody-” She was going off on a tangent, and Karen couldn’t help but giggle.

“So you are thinking of her as a reference.” Karen grinned smugly.

“Karen!”

“Now, now. What’s all the fuss about?” A voice called from the other side of the room, catching the occupant’s attention. The pair froze in place, minds registering the identity of the newcomer.

“Your highness!” Junna greeted first, immediately straightening up as she and Karen offered their respects in deep bows to the tall figure, regal and proud, stood at the doorway of the study.

The Royal Princess, Tendou Maya, in her full glory, sauntered into the room, not forgetting to shut the door behind her, before taking a seat on Junna’s desk- much to the latter’s chagrin- and immediately destroyed her image of poise and elegance as she hid behind closed doors.

“Finally.” Maya sighed, gazing out at Junna’s balcony, seeing the bright blue sky and the rustles of trees as the wind’s whistling was heard through open windows. “I thought they’d never end.” She huffed, jumping back onto her feet as she walked about the room.

“Princess, what are you doing here?” Junna addressed their new companion once more, surprised at the sudden visit. Usually Maya would inform her beforehand if she was planning on dropping by. “Did you run away from more noble meetings?”

Maya smiled at her in an amused manner that had Junna feeling a little irritated. “Can’t a student come see her Tutor at any given time should she have any queries in mind?” Maya asked sweetly, picking up a random book from a nearby shelf and flipping through its pages.

Junna stared, trying to read the woman’s expression and actions. She couldn’t. Groaning, Junna replied, “First of all, you are no longer my student. You’ve learned all you’ve needed to from me, finished all your course work two years ago. Secondly, do you even have anything to ask that I can answer that you don’t already know?”

Maya kept smiling at her mysteriously. “How are you?- is a valid question that you can answer and I don’t already know?”

“Don’t be cheeky, Your highness.” Junna rolled her eyes, getting back to her script on her desk.

“My, the genius scholar, the Kingdom’s royal tutor, can’t answer one of the simplest questions?” Maya faux-gasped. “Whatever shall we do? Find a new one?” She continued to tease.

Junna frowned, feeling a headache coming on. “Maya, you really don’t want me to dive into a long discussion on how that question could actually be one of the most difficult to answer.”

As if to remind the pair of her presence, Karen agreed enthusiastically, nodding her head at the same time. “You wouldn’t want to get bored, your highness. One time, Miss Junna tried to explain to me why I could buy five sacks of rice in the next town over for the price of only three in the capital, and I still don’t get it.” She chuckled sheepishly, scratching her head in confusion.

“Um, Dame Aijo, that’s a little different. You might be somewhat slow-”

“Oh, how interesting!” Maya clapped, playing along with Karen. Turning to Junna who had just flinched, she directed another question. “How can that be, teacher?” She asked innocently.

Junna grimaced, really not up to the task of having to play Maya’s little games today. Regaining her composure, Junna cleared her throat. “Okay, for what purpose have you actually come to see me, Princess?” She asked, hoping for a reasonable answer.

“To see my good old friend and catch up on life?” Maya tried.

Junna deadpanned. “Like hell that’s true. You haven’t visited me in three months. Each time you’ve visited before that, it was to either ask me to hide you from marriage interviews, sneak into a play, escape whatever duties you found tedious, or snack on baumkuchen secretly with Karen over here.”

“Baumkuchen is good for the soul.”

“Not for your figure.” Though she said that, Junna frowned as she remembered the time she was chewed out by the etiquette tutor for allowing Maya to eat ‘junk’ outside of mealtime; allowed her to eat more than her designated and controlled portions.

Despite knowing how nobles liked to keep up appearances, Junna hardly found it necessary to impose such a diet on the princess with how active she was anyway. Also, as someone with lists and lists of responsibilities to cater throughout the day, she worried if it was even enough, what they fed the poor girl.

What if she simply collapsed one day?

“You don’t mean that.” Maya smirked at her, propping up her face in her hands on Junna’s desk.

Junna’s frown deepened. A splash of color appeared on her face that she quickly hid behind her manuscript. “I suppose not.” She admitted quietly.

Maya laughed freely, stepping back to allow her friend some breathing room. She went over to Karen to strike up some more amusing conversation maybe.

“So what kind of whimsical fairy tale has Miss Junna tried to string together this time?” She asked Karen.

Junna choked on air as she turned to glare at the cause of her stress today. “Why would you like to know?”

If the princess claimed she wanted to take part in another one of her productions, Junna would have to discourage her from doing so. She used to be pleased to have Maya on board, sometimes even pleading her because of her talent and potential for the stage- she was very clearly loved by its goddess. However, Junna had quickly learned that a Royal should not be placed under that kind of spotlight.

They were already on a high enough pedestal that was better tailored to people of their caliber; worlds and worlds beyond even the most talented actors, the brightest stars.

When His Majesty’s second wife, the queen consort, had heard of these activities, she had hounded Junna, and her fiance Nana- the director and owner of the theater- to cease any production that would ‘taint’ the Royal Princess’s image and only serve as distraction from her duties that were of greater significance.

Such as trying to succeed the throne.

It wasn’t only for her sake that she had to turn Maya away from the stage that called to her like a siren from the sea. It would be better for that sailor to keep away and stay alive all together. After all, mermaids were temptingly beautiful, but they devoured the life of those drawn to them.

So would it be for Tendou Maya.

“There’s just been this rumor circling about, princess.” Junna heard Karen begin, looking over at the pair who shared amicable smiles as they conversed.

Should she halt this topic?

“And this rumor is...?”

“Oh, just how there’s this weird, abandoned, palace-like thingy in the forest just by the border to that terrible west kingdom.”

Junna watched as Maya seemed to perk up, not liking the interest that was apparent on her face.

“They say there’s a princess there!”

“My! A princess!”

“They said she’s been sleeping there for a while!” Karen continued to share without much thought, Maya nodding enthusiastically and clinging onto every word. An action Junna did not like. “And that she’ll never wake up. Poor princess. Can’t they bring her to a clinic or something?”

“Ohoh? I suppose that would be the usual course of action.” Maya replied, going along with Karen’s storytelling. “What else do you know?” Maya asked, hoping to fish out some more information, no doubt.

Junna had to stop her already burning hunger from getting even bigger.

“Nothing else that you should hear of.” She cut the conversation off with a tap of her pen. “Anyway, it’s all just a rumor.” Junna stated. “It’s not as though there is proof of an actual structure suddenly being there in the western forests, nor is there any certainty about a princess residing in deep slumber there.”

Maya flashed her an evil grin, walking over to her table again, standing right in front of her once more.

“But there isn’t any proof that it doesn’t exist either, right?” She whispered to Junna with a glint in her eyes that only spelled trouble.

“Don’t get any funny ideas, Maya. The kingdom will absolutely have my head if they learn that I’ve somehow placed ideas in yours.” She sighed, rolling up her papers and smacking Maya on the head lightly. The princess simply laughed in amusement.

“Worry not, my good friend. I’ve taken your kind words into consideration.”

Junna stared at her, still skeptical. Knowing Maya, ‘consideration’ was just that. Consideration. And, most likely, Maya was considering going against Junna’s warning.

Really, she could only hope for the best, and pray that Maya wouldn’t do whatever her pretty little head had clearly already planned.

‘No, no.’ Junna shook her head. She should trust Maya. She was an adult, responsible, and a royal. She knew her duties, and she knew what was right. Maya was an intelligent woman. She wouldn’t just thoughtlessly go out in search of the existence of some baseless tale. Yes. Junna shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

She looked over at the princess still casually conversing with Karen, all cheers and smiles coming from the pair. The knight continued to entertain Maya with more and more trivial details regarding the stories of that hidden castle in the woods, and the shine in Maya’s eyes that Junna usually associated with her excitement and craving for adventure only became brighter and brighter.

This was worrisome.

Junna bit her lip, anxiety growing more and more as she tried to convince herself that everything would be just fine.

Okay, okay. Even if Maya would, hypothetically, try to go off in search of this ‘mystery princess’, there were many guards posted about the castle anyway.

She couldn’t escape and do anything, right?

No, in the first place, she wouldn’t do anything. Right?

Right?

//-//-//-//-//

She shouldn’t be doing this. She knows it deep down.

Should her parents catch wind of her plans, she could either be disowned or forever locked away in her own tower.

Regardless, these threats of consequence could not hope to quell her hungered curiosity. Maya couldn’t sit still after hearing such a tale- an adventure outside the walls of the palace. One that was much like the stories she had only ‘played’ thus far.

This time, it was real.

And so did the princess sneak out into the dead of the night.

“Come now, Samson.” A lone horse’s whinny shook the silent air, Maya feeling her heart pound at the thrill of game she had begun to play. A game of life. “Shhhh. Be silent, my boy. We must be discreet.” She whispered, stroking the silky mane of her stallion, hoping it would soothe him.

It seemed to have worked and Maya sighed in temporary relief.

Looking ahead into the darkness of the courtyard, she surveyed the area ahead in attempts to check for any possible dangers. Finding none, she took one final look behind her to ensure that she was not being followed.

Good. The coast was clear.

Addressing her loyal companion, Maya took the reins and commanded forward. “Shall we?” She smiled as she got a little huff. “Hyah!” She exclaimed, loud enough only for their ears to pick up.

She cantered Samson over the currently-empty courtyard, out the back, having known a secret pathway through the castle gardens to get onto the streets without passing the main gate where guards were usually posted, and rarely left.

She should really advise their knights on how to better their security. People could get in through places besides the gate.

...or people could sneak out.

She could.

But maybe... not now.

Stepping onto the cobblestone pavement, she grinned. So far, so perfect.

Catching sight of the palace gate, she giggled as she saw a guard stretching in the distance, probably yawning from drowsiness during night duty.

Yes, she should indeed talk to her father in the future. Or not.

“Fools.”

//-//

Into the dense forest, they ran. Galloping hooves braving a weather that was somehow stormy. The air and the scenery was somehow eerie. Darkened clouds and thorny paths had so soon greeted them as Maya traversed towards the direction Karen had pointed out.

The location of a hidden tower.

From what Junna and Karen had shared in terms of the rumors they’d heard about it, they said a princess from the neighboring kingdom had been born twenty or so years ago. She had been blessed by three fairies, and cursed by a witch, Maleficent- was her name, apparently.

The girl was to prick her finger on a spindle of a spinning wheel, and then she’d sleep on death’s bed inevitably.

That was how it had gone.

Maya was a believer in the magic of the world. After all, the members of the royal family were some of the few who had been gifted with its wonder.

She wouldn’t call them miraculous, but she had undeniable strength that far exceeded many of their best male knights, as well as healing abilities that could get rid of smaller cuts, and halt excessive bleeding.

This proved useful as Maya made her way through the thick brush, feeling the sharp of thorns on occasion as she went deeper into the forest.

After a good hour or so of searching, Maya had found herself at the base of what she had presumed was the ‘palace’ from the rumors. Tall-standing and surrounded by thorns, with an eerie air that only added more fearsome layers to its image shrouded in darkness, Maya deliberated continuing on her little adventure.

Should it hold terrors far greater than she had initially accounted for, this curiosity trip would very easily end up with chaos and sorrow in an entire kingdom.

However, should rumors stay as rumors...

Maya laughed at her own foolishness as she dismounted Samson, tying him to a nearby tree.

“Let’s hope I don’t die, my boy.” She stroked her trusted steed as he nuzzled against her hand. “I’ll be back.”

//-//-//-//-//

Another cough exited her mouth, particles of dust shrouding her vision. Clearing away a cobweb with her hand, Maya found the first open door to any room she’s passed by thus far. A long winding stairwell sat inside, steps that snaked their way to the top of a tower invited Maya to take them and uncover the secrets they might lead to.

Maya took one step. Then another. And another.

Half-way to the top, she had found another door. Right away, she knew it was different from all the other wooden entrances she’d encountered so far. Besides the odd glow that seemed to be coming from within, it had an equally strange inscription carved into its wood.

With a light push, the door flew open, revealing a spinning wheel. The glow she had initially taken note of didn’t come from the room, apparently. But neither was it from the spinning wheel itself.

Maya focused her eyes on one part of the machinery, seeing the spindle sparkle alluringly, almost invitingly.

“What a dangerous-looking contraption.” She murmured, stepping closer. Sharp. It was sharp, she observed, the closer she got. “What if... someone got hurt?” In a trance like state, her body continued to close the distance between herself and the seemingly glowing piece of furniture. Her eyes remained fixated on its eerie shine. “...How tragic... would that be...”

Stopping just inches shy of the spindle, Maya’s breath stilled. Almost as if it had a mind of its own, almost as if Maya had forgotten the whole tale she had just been told, her hand lifted up, reaching for the spindle-

...when a creak suddenly caught her attention. As though a spell had been broken, Maya blinked, quickly pulling her hand away and looking up towards the source of the noise. She saw another door, one that was slightly open, leading into more darkness, revealing none of what possibly lay beyond it.

Her heart beat fast at the thought of either being caught by someone from her kingdom, or by an entirely different entity- a monster or ghoul perhaps? Either way, the dangers the options presented was not to her liking.

Still, this did little to douse the fire that was her thrill-seeking curiosity, and thus, she went after it: the dark and beyond.

She took careful steps, pushing the door to widen its opening in hopes that the strange light from the previous room would help to illuminate this new one. The hinged wood budged with an echoing creak, one that made Maya flinch, still wary of alerting any possible inhabitants of the palace.

Upon entering the room, Maya’s eyes fluttered about the dim surrounding, scanning over the surprisingly dusted furnishings, and well-kept room.

How strange.

For a place that supposedly only had a sleeping individual of a few years already, to be this clean... Was this also due to the effects of magic?

Her gaze continued to travel, hopping from one thing to another. She took careful, quiet steps about the room as she surveyed it, searching for a better source of light at the same time.

Coming to a curtained wall, she pulled the fabrics apart, hoping a window was present there. Smiling victoriously at her correct assumption, she allowed the natural evening light to flutter into the room and illuminate it as she turned around to see things more clearly.

And clearly she saw. Eyes widening, they came to rest upon a figure glowing under the elegant light of the moon. A sleeping beauty, resting. The princess of the rumors. Maya gazed upon her face, mind blanking and unable to tear her gaze away.

Her cheeks were somehow still a gorgeous apple-red despite supposedly having lack of nutrition due to her lengthy slumber- should the rumors hold any truth- albeit somewhat hollowed out. She had long lashes, and was fair-skinned. What drew Maya in the most in that moment was the glow of golden hair. Silky, fluffy, seemingly magical.

“Absolutely beautiful.”

Maya, outside of her conscious control, reached out to touch it- much like she’d almost done to the needle before. However, unlike that earlier attraction, this one was... different.

The pull of danger was as a hypnotic, malicious trance. Despite the dread coursing through your veins, the fear pounding in one’s heart, you could not step away. On the other hand, this allure was gentle, soft. She was not as a moth to a flame, nor a sailor to the siren’s song.

This was a hand held out, beckoning her for a life-changing dance as her fate entwined with whoever it was that lay upon satin sheets in an abandoned castle.

Maya flinched once her skin made contact with silken gold, before relaxing, enjoying their soft feel. Holding a few strands that slipped through her fingertips, she brought it to her lips placing a kiss on them.

Her heart beat painfully in her chest, but she did not think it was in any way unpleasant. Her eyes scanned over Sleeping Beauty’s features once more, resting upon slightly paled lips somehow growing larger and larger in her view.

Oh.

Maya had been drawing closer.

And Maya was about to kiss the lady.

Breath stilling in her lungs, Maya pulled her senses together, shaking her head as she berated herself for even considering such a distasteful course of action- throwing herself upon someone without the least bit of consent.

She’d seen many beautiful faces in her lifetime, she’d flirted with some too- much to Junna and her parents’ chagrin. But never had she felt as... captured as she was in this moment; never had Maya been filled with a strong urge to know who this person was, to have the pleasure of being acquainted with someone such as this.

She had never felt the desire to steal a kiss from someone she’d just met, and hoped that maybe... they’d kiss back.

Eyes widening, Maya slapped her hands against both sides of her face; the feeling of the warmth of her cheeks grounded her back in the reality of the moment as she attempted to take a step back and recollect herself-

And suddenly she found herself looking up at the ceiling and into precious garnets with a flame-like passion burning within them as she was pinned down to the mattress by their glare and their owner’s physical strength.

A lovely owner, might she add.

“Who. Are. You.”

Maya blinked.

‘Even her voice is lovely.’-She thought, despite the venom in its tone. Whether Maya’s heart was picking up speed due to fright or something else, she didn’t know. Her mind was a jumbled mess of being dumbfounded and starstruck at the beauty presented to her, her subconscious’ warnings that she was currently in danger, and confusion towards this predicament she had found herself in.

“I said, Who are you.” Maya’s fair lady repeated, shaking her by the collar for emphasis that she was not to be joked with, and that Maya should answer seriously if she wanted to make it out of this situation in one piece.

Did she, however?

Maya wondered if she had some sort of odd preferences deep down that despite her apprehensions and surprise, she couldn’t help but feel merry and excited in her position, laying beneath some unknown gorgeous woman who was angered and threatening.

She couldn’t help the smile that broke out on her face as she replied, “Why, I’m Maya. And you?” She hoped it at least looked charming, like the one she usually used on all the pretty village girls as their faces soon turned red and flustered.

She didn’t expect to get a growl instead... or should she have?

“Are you one of her servants?” The blonde interrogated, not answering Maya’s own question as she searched Maya’s eyes for any motives of deception and dishonesty.

“Her?” Maya cocked her head to the side curiously. “Who might you be referring to, my dear?” She asked, somehow still hoping to charm or tease the woman with a subtle pet name that only went ignored.

Golden brows scrunched up further, fangs baring more obviously for Maya to admire as the woman answered her question. “Maleficent, obviously!”

“Maleficent?” Now where had Maya heard of that before...

Apparently, this strange beauty had taken it upon herself to fill Maya in on the details, as she released her from her grip, pushing her away and onto the sheets as she got up to pace the room in clear vexation and rage from just the thought of whoever this ‘Maleficent’ person was. Just her name was enough to rile her up, it seemed, and Maya’s suspicious and intruding presence was now quickly forgotten as her newly-awakened companion went off on a raged rant.

“She who has locked me up for who knows how long. With the silly prophesy that I’d prick my finger on a spindle and fall asleep for many years.” She explained, pausing in her steps to give Maya a look. “That one.”

Maya still didn’t quite follow. It all did sound so familiar.

“I beg your pardon?”

The lady didn’t seem to have heard Maya as she continued on her fiery tirade. “Who in their right mind, when being told the exact misfortune that would serve as their demise, go with it? Certainly not I!”

“I see...?” Maya had now assumed a more comfortable sitting position atop the room’s mattress, watching the woman in front of her continue to grumble and pace about.

“Avoiding that damned curse was nothing of a challenge- it was trivial, even.” She sighed, biting her nail in annoyance. “But there’s an entirely different issue at hand!” She exclaimed, stomping her foot down as she crossed her arms and looked to Maya, as if asking her to tell her what it was.

Maya had no clue whatsoever.

She heard her companion click her tongue in disappointment at the lack of response, and that somehow stung for Maya.

Maya was quickly enlightened once more by the things she had no clue about.

“I can’t leave the building for some reason. Each time I’ve tried, it was as though I’d entered a never-ending maze.” She huffed. “And even if I got passed that, I’ve discovered that she sends a dragon to check up on me from time to time. The timing is sporadic so I can’t even plan a definite schedule of escape. Maybe if I had my sword, though...” She mumbled the last bits to herself. “Maybe it would be a different story.”

Maya watched the troubled girl continue with her mental acrobatics and murmuring, still bewildered by the sudden outburst of emotions and quickly growing pile of information that she was still trying to process bit by bit. She reviewed the story she had heard in her memory to the best of her abilities, somehow feeling that something was off with the tale she had just been told.

Something clicked, and she snapped her fingers in realization, as she got up from her seat and walked over to the perplexed lady.

“Excuse me-”

“What.” The response was biting and cold.

Maya flinched, but prepared an unbothered smile as she tried to strike up a coherent conversation with this girl.

“I’m sorry, but... I just wanted to confirm something.”

The blonde only raised her brow, telling Maya silently to go on.

Maya suddenly felt nervous, and nervous wasn’t really something she thought she was capable of feeling, not with all her background and training. However, under the scrutiny of those intense eyes, she felt her throat dry as she struggled to use her words.“Um, so...” She began, feeling the urge to rub at the back of her neck to ease her sudden anxiety. “You said you couldn’t find a way to leave?” She finally got out lamely.

“Yes, that’s what I said. Weren’t you listening?” Was the fiery response that confirmed Maya’s confusion.

“I... I see.” Maya stuttered. She cursed at the fact that she did. Still, she had to continue on with this conversation in order to understand what was nagging at her. “I see, but...”

“But?”

Maya pointed towards the way she came in, the door still wide open and with that odd glow from the needle in the previous room she’d passed to arrive in this one. “The exit is right there, milady.” She stated slowly, clearly, hoping the other woman would get her message.

“...”

“...milady?”

She received an angered glare, feeling her collar grasped once more as Maya was pulled to meet the woman eye to eye. “What foolishness are you spouting?” She questioned, thrusting a finger in the direction Maya had pointed at. “That is clearly a wall.”

Maya blinked, tilting her head in confusion. No, no. She was clearly not blind, was she? She was sure that she wasn’t dreaming either- that she was in the right state of mind. So why...

Instead of trying to explain things, or understand through words, Maya decided to figure things out the easier way. She pried the other woman’s hands away and made her way towards the door. She felt the heated gaze on her back as she stood in front of the open frame. Looking back once, she nodded.

And she walked right through the door.

Staring at the lady through the passage, she wondered why she wasn’t being followed, why there was no ‘I hadn’t noticed that there’, or any similar words.

All she heard was an awed, “How did you do that?”, and her lagging brain clicked. Oh.

Maya came back in, multiple possibilities and reasons now running through her mind as to why this girl could not see the clearly placed exit. Right, this place was covered in magic. Why hadn’t she thought of that sooner? Maya put on her smile once more, approaching the girl as she took her by the hand and led her closer to the door. “I’m telling you, milady. There’s nothing here.”

She still looked at Maya skeptically, clearly in doubt.

“Milady, do you believe in magic?”

She received a deadpanned look, and she realized it wasn’t the smartest question to ask someone who had been locked up in a tower, guarded by a dragon, and cursed to suffer eternal slumber by the touch of one tiny needle.

“Apologies, of course you do.”

Maya watched the blonde sigh, as she nodded, looking at Maya with a calmer demeanor as she stated what they now thought they both knew. “So there’s a door there, and I simply can’t see it because I’m probably under some type of illusion spell.”

Maya hummed her agreement, and admired the way her companion’s face lit up in relief and a joy she didn’t think she’d ever see replace the grouchy expression that seemed to be forever set in place.

“Well.” Maya’s sleeping beauty smiled at her, unknowingly making her heart skip a beat. Maya wondered what that was about.

“Well?” Maya parroted, clearing her throat after a minor crack in her voice.

“Now that we know that this wall is but an illusion... I guess I feel like a fool for not trying to figure that out any sooner.” The woman laughed, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear as she turned to look about her room. “I suppose it’s time for me to leave this musty old building and claim my freedom.” She grinned. “I wonder if I can find anything of use here that I can take with me.”

Huh. She was leaving.

Somehow Maya didn’t like the sound of that.

She couldn’t leave. Not when they hadn’t even had a proper conversation yet.

To where would she go? Would it be to a place where Maya could find her, or seek her out? Maya felt compelled to stay with her, or have her stay with Maya. Maybe they could go back to Maya’s kingdom together... and then she could get to know her more. Maya... wanted-needed to get to know her more. Even if she didn’t know why that was herself.

Right, Maya still didn’t know her name. Where was she from? Why was she... Maya needed to ask. Maya needed to know.

Clearing her throat once more, she reached out for the girl.

“So, I was wondering-”

“It was nice knowing you, thank you for showing me the way out.” Were the words that interrupted her plans.

‘Wait, no. Not yet. Where are you going?’

“Now I must be off-”Maya’s panicked hands were too late in catching the girl as she tried to exit the room, “Oof-What the...” but instead found herself hitting a hard barrier and falling onto her back.

Hmm?

“Hmm? What... happened...” Maya asked, quickly kneeling to check on her fallen companion.

The woman rubbed her forehead, a red spot marking the area that probably hurt the most. “That’s what I’m asking.” She quickly turned to glare at Maya, pointing an accusatory finger at her. “You.” She angrily spat. “You lied to me.”

“Wha- I did no such thing!” Maya felt compelled to defend herself, getting up from her spot and hastily walking in and out of the doorway, as if that would prove some point. “See?”

“I don’t see!” The blonde exclaimed, crossing her arms as she sat on the floor. “You really are one of Maleficent’s henchmen! What, did she send you here to make a fool of me? Is she watching from somewhere? Is this some kind of sick entertainment for her?” She madly questioned, standing up and jamming a finger into Maya’s chest, forcing her back.

“I’ve already told you, I’m not!” Maya countered, her own volume raising.

“Then who are you?!” The woman screeched at her, pinning her against the wall- except that it wasn’t a wall for Maya, and she promptly fell through into the other room and onto the cold hard floor.

“Ouch... that hurt...” Maya groaned as she got up, running her fingers against the back of her head gently to soothe the sharp pain there.

She looked up to see the girl on the other side of the entryway banging her fists against a barrier Maya could not visualize, but the other could not deal away with, apparently.

“Who are you?” She was asked again. “Who are you?! If you aren’t one of those people who have thrown me in here, how did you find me? How did you know of this place? Why are you here?! Tell me!”

Maya silently watched her continue to yell in fury, continually slamming her hands desperately against the ‘open door’.

“Were you here to toy with my sanity? To give me false hope that I’d finally get be able to be free?”

Each question was accentuated by a hard thumping sound as she beat against the wall.

“Did you leave already?! Figures you would! You didn’t even try to prove me wrong!”

Maya considered the option of exiting the place, no longer willing to tolerate the manner with which she had been treated the entire time. She considered it.

She considered no longer having to deal with this clearly crazed woman. She did not know what came over her when she thought that she was the least bit attractive.

She considered getting up. She got up.

She considered turning away. Maya did.

She considered finally walking out of the room...

-until she heard it.

The tiniest sniffle, so small she could have missed it if it weren’t for the sudden complete quiet after all the loud noise.

“...I just thought I’d finally be able to find my way home...Wherever home is...”

A pang shot through her heart as she turned back around, eyes falling upon a forlorn face that was quick to be covered in tears. If that wasn’t enough to drive an emotional knife through her chest, the lady beyond the wall began to wail helplessly in what Maya could only describe as pure, unadulterated pain.

“WHY AM I HERE?! WHAT DID I EVEN DO TO DESERVE THIS?! WHO EVEN AM I?! WHY ME?!” The girl sobbed. “Damn you, Maleficent! Damn you, dragon, damn this stupid tower, damn it all!”

Maya watched the girl slump against the clear barrier, falling to her knees as her poundings returned in weak waves and slaps against the wall, until she ended up curling on the floor, quietly sniffling and well-worn.

Maya approached the door once more, wanting to reach out, but not knowing what to say. She crouched down, mouth opening and closing until her voice eventually came out.

“I... I’m still here.” She spoke softly. There was no response. “Can you hear me?” Nothing still.

Maya bit her lip nervously. If she tried to go back in, would she be walking straight into death’s clutches? Would she get beat up? Even if she escaped later, how was she to explain what happened once she returned home?

Maya needed to think... wait, but did she have the time? She didn’t have all night to do whatever it was she came here to do. She needed to be out by sunrise and well on her way home. Wait... home? What home? Where was she? Why did she need to go home? Why was she here in the first place? Where was here?

“What am I...”

She felt a sharp pain in her head. Was it from the fall? Maya suddenly felt dizzy, her head began to spin and ache as she fell to the ground. She cursed the throbbing in her head. Maybe she could try healing it with magic. Maybe that would assuage the pain.

Healing? Magic?

What...

Maya shook her head. She didn’t have the time to think about all these things that were suddenly confusing her. She just had to do what she needed to.

Her hand took on a golden glow that almost seemed foreign to her. She didn’t know what it was, but somehow her body told her she should do it, that she could.

Shakily raising her hand up in a struggle, she managed to touch her head, and suddenly, along with a blindingly bright glow that filled the room, she felt clarity and many thoughts flowing in, as the pain melted away into nothingness along with the light.

Maya blinked, suddenly remembering so many things that she didn’t even know she’d forgotten. “...The princess. I’m... a princess. I’m Tendou Maya and I’m here to... I wanted to find out about a princess- the princess!” In panic, she turned to the lady she had been with all this time, her story earlier now registering in Maya’s mind and associating with the tall tale Junna and Karen had spoken about.

Maleficent... a tower... magic... a spindle and a curse.

Maya whipped her head about to see that the needle was no longer glowing to her. It looked like any old spinning wheel, sat in a room.

It was like an enchantment had been lifted off of Maya, and she saw with clearer eyes what was going on.

When had it settled? Was it the moment she entered this forsaken castle? Was it when she had laid eyes on the cursed contraption? Maya did not know.

All she knew was that she needed to help set free this woman that was most probably the princess from the rumors that may as well not be rumors. But how?

Well, it didn’t matter right now. Maya just needed to take some course of action to temporarily ease the situation. She could figure out the rest later. Soon. She did not know how long she’d been here in the tower, nor did she have a way of telling how much time she had left before needing to leave except through the window she’d opened in the other room. If she had to go in anyway, she may as well explain things to the captive princess inside.

Maya swallowed thickly, wondering what she should do now. The princess still lay across the way. Should she simply step over her and enter like that? Or should she move her out of the way first. Either option would probably get her beat, but Maya didn’t need to think about that right now... maybe if she held her in place to prevent her from attacking once she notices Maya’s presence?

Nodding to herself, Maya crept closer to the open door, knelt down on one knee, bracing her arms for the weight.

She needed to do it smootly and quickly, before there was any time for the other woman to register what was going on.

Three... two... one...

“Wha-!”

Maya slipped her hands and arms under the princess’ weight and hurriedly carried her up and over to lay her down on the bed before she could react.

“You!” Wide eyes regarded Maya with shock as she pinned the other princess down by her wrists, hoping that she couldn’t break free. “Why are you back?! What more are you going to do to me?! Are you- Get off me! Get off!”

“Wait! Wait! I need you to listen to me for a moment! Please!”

“Why should I, you rascal- what are you doing to me-mmpghhmm! Mmmmphhh!!!”

Maya had managed to hold down both the other woman’s wrists with only one of her hands, while she used her free one to cover her mouth, hoping to silence her, if only for a bit.

“PLEASE JUST LISTEN FOR ONCE.” Maya shouted sternly, shocking them both by the power and force in her voice. She felt worse as she noticed the still-present tear stains on her cheeks. They stared at one another in complete silence, until Maya regained her thought process. “Please. Listen. I’ll tell you all I know. But please listen first.”

The girl still looked shocked, but nodded.

Maya nodded back, pondering her next words. “If I... release you. Will you promise to stay silent and behaved, and let me explain everything?”

She watched the girl slowly nod once more.

Maya looked at her doubtfully.

“You won’t attack me?”

Another nod.

“...okay. I’ll let go now.”

To be safe, she first took her hand away from the girl’s mouth, receiving a disgusted glare.

“Leather tastes awful.”

“You promised to stay silent.”

“You promised to release me.”

Maya felt her brows furrow, feeling the slightest bit annoyed.

“Do not attack me.” She warned, slowly releasing the woman’s hands. “I swear, do not attack me. Do not.” She chanted, hands finally completely off. “I’m telling you, I swear. Do not-”

And once more, she found herself pinned against the cushions, only this time, she was face first into them.

“I SWEAR TO GOD-”

“Tell me who you are and why you are here!” Was demanded of her. “And don’t try anything strange.” Maya could probably find a clever way to weasel her way out, but she knew if she raised any more suspicion by being untruthful or vague, she’d get nowhere in negotiating and explaining with this person.

Sighing her usual pride away, she asked a single question first.

“Will you believe what I’m about to tell you?”

After all, there would be no point if she didn’t.

“Yes.” The answer was quick, and Maya was genuinely surprised.

“R-really?!”

Genuinely surprised.

“Just spit it out. No funny business either.”

Maya actually felt elated as she did her best to nod in her position.

“Okay, I will tell you. My name really is Maya.”

“Maya. Maya what?”

“T-Tendou Maya.” She answered, before adding, “I’m a princess from the nearby kingdom, and I came here to confirm a rumor.”

Suddenly she felt herself released. Easing up into a sitting position, she turned to look at an oddly nervous face.

“... Are you serious about the princess bit... Tendou Maya?”

A tingle ran through her spine at the sound of her name rolling off those insanely gorgeous lips that she was suddenly so conscious of once more, almost forgetting to respond.

“Y-yes. Yes. I promise. No lies here.”

She was given a once-over, before the other party looked away and whispered a quiet ‘sorry’.

Why... was it so cute.

“So we can be civil.” Maya quipped, lightly teasing.

“Shut up.” The woman huffed. “And so? What rumor, p-princess?” Maya was asked carefully, snapping her out of any unnecessary thoughts.

Right. Maya inhaled deeply, breathing out a question in return to first confirm something. “Do you know how old you are?” She asked.

Her companion looked at her confusedly, before nodding. “If my guess is right, and that Maleficent visits every year or so to see if I still exist... then I know I am roughly twenty years old from the time I was taken away at six. But what does that have to do with what you’re saying?”

Maya nodded to herself, now a little more sure, and hoping that these rumors actually held some kind of truth to them. She looked seriously into confused eyes, ready to explain.

“If that is so then... the rumor was that a princess had been asleep in a castle in the woods for many years. I... came here to investigate.”

“Princess?” The girl echoed. “Me?” She asked again, pointing a finger to herself.

Maya nodded.

“What?”

“If the rumors hold any weight to them, then...”

“But really, a princess?” The girl continued to be skeptical, and Maya was becoming just as confused as she was.

“Wait, don’t you know that? But...” Digging through her memory, Maya was so sure that... “But you knew that you were supposed to prick your finger and fall asleep, didn’t you? Why wouldn’t you know that you’re a princess...”

Two confused ladies sat on a bed, staring at each other in utter confusion.

“I was raised in a cottage in the woods by three aunts. They just happened to warn me about something odd like this. And they told me that if I ever came across a Maleficent person, I should try my best to get away...”

“But how did you end up here?” Maya was now so very lost.

“I honestly do not know.” The blonde shrugged. “I woke up one day in the room with the needle, somehow felt angry that I fell into the stupid situation I was trying to avoid... and I remember walking away from it. Next thing I know, I’ve already grown up in... this place.” She shrugged nonchalantly, gesturing towards the whole room. Maya suddenly felt the urge to laugh.

“Pff- what?”

“What?” The look on the other woman’s face told Maya that she was slightly offended with Maya’s reaction.

“No, I just... Your tale sounded like it should have been much more dramatic than that. But then you just... walked away. From what was essentially your life’s bane.” Maya giggled, laughed in disbelief, combing a hand through her hair. “I can’t... I can’t believe you.” She said, looking the girl in the eyes in amusement.

“How rude... after I believed every word you said.” She grumbled.

“Except that you are possibly a princess?”

“...No one would believe that.”

“And you believe that I am?”

She received a shrug. “Best be safe than sorry. If you ever go back to your little kingdom and report that you were manhandled by a random prisoner in the forest, I might be free from this prison, but moving straight into another. Though that doesn’t sound so bad if it means I have company.”

“Pfff.. ahahahha. What are you saying?” She broke out into laughter, wiping tears away from her eyes, feeling more and more relieved by the second.

Everything felt so surreal to Maya. It all felt peaceful and settled, like she wasn’t just adventuring in a dangerous area; like she hadn’t just been under- and fighting against- the effects of a spell that was distorting her mind; as though she wasn’t just wrestling for life with the woman now seated calmly across from her.

A woman she still didn’t know, but felt like she should.

“And so?” Maya said, finally calming down.

“So? So what?”

Maya felt a familiar giddy smile playing over her lips once more.

“You told me what was essentially your life story, so how about you finally tell me your name next?”

“My name?”

“Yes. Your full name, if possible.” Maya said with a bat of her lashes that earned her an eye roll.

“Right, how about no.”

Maya felt her lips fall into a pout. “But why? Isn’t it only fair that I get your name in exchange for my own?”

“All is fair in love and war, whether you get my name or not.” The woman shrugged, returning a grin of her own.

Maya liked that. The grin, and the mention of love.

Love... huh.

As Maya continued to get hung over on those words, she heard a cock crow in the distance, reality immediately sinking in as she looked in the direction of the window only to be greeted by the thin orange line of the morning horizon.

‘No!’

“I-I have to go!” She sprung up to her feet, panic in her voice as she looked around the room hastily for anything she may have dropped of hers. Finding all her things secure, her gaze finally landed on the lonely smile on the face of the woman she had strangely become attached to- so much so that she didn’t want to leave. She gasped, realizing what she’d said wrong. “I-I mean... we- we have to-”

“I suppose this is goodbye.” The other woman said quietly in a tone that was a far cry from her earlier fierceness. “We both know I can’t leave. Not unless we figure out how I could.” She spoke, eyes trailing towards the door only Maya could see. Her voice was small, insecure. It was sorrowful. It hurt.

But it didn’t have to, Maya realized.

She coughed a few times, approaching the foot of the bed, kneeling by the seated maiden. She hesitantly offered her hands up, pleased when the response of the woman was to place her own in Maya’s.

Maya took in a deep breath to counter the unexpected anxiousness growing within her.

Lifting her gaze up, her words came out in a mere whisper. “M-May I... come see you again?”

Maya watched her eyes express the widest range of emotions she’d ever seen from a person. Shock, embarrassment, warmth, fondness, gratefulness...

They were beautiful.

Even the small drops of tears that had begun to form at the tips of her long lashes, beautiful.

Her current smile and bout of gentle laughter, beautiful.

The way she sniffled, and the fresh trail of tears that rewrote the story of the prior stains on her face- so beautiful.

The way her golden hair framed her face, stray tresses sticking to her slightly sweaty skin- beautiful.

Maya stared at beauty itself, and was left in awe.

“Only if you bring me a better meal than stale bread and uncooked potatoes.” She chuckled through her sniffling.

Maya felt her heart flutter erratically, barely managing a playful response. “Any requests?”

“... Tuna.” Was the near inaudible reply, coupled with a shy tint on her companion’s cheeks.

“May I inquire as to why?” Maya asked, feeling her stupid grin widening so much, it ached.

“...I just like it...”

Just who was this adorably shy creature, and how could Maya make her even happier.

“Understood. I will acquire for you only the best.” Maya smiled, the pads of her thumbs running circles over the smooth skin of the other princess’ hands.

Another crow of the rooster made her grip those hands lightly, the sting in her chest coming back.

“I s-suppose I’ll see you again later.” Maya said, looking down at their joined hands, avoiding the other’s gaze as she stood up.

As she began to pull away, she felt a light tug. Looking up, she met bashful garnets searching her eyes, and quivering lips that were trying to communicate something.

“Yes?” Maya gently prompted, squeezing her hands lightly.

“Claude. For now... you can call me... Claude...J-just so that... when you come back...” Claude trailed off, averting her gaze shyly- rather endearingly, might Maya add.

“Claude.” Maya smiled, placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles. “I will come back.”

She relished the blush blooming across ‘Claude’s’ face, pocketing it in a memory to be recalled multiple times throughout her everyday, no doubt.

“I will definitely bring you home. I’ll figure out a way.”

Maya cupped her face, wiping the few tears that had escaped away as she rested her forehead against Claude’s.

“I will definitely bring you home, free.”

A/N: I clearly strayed from theme. Sorry. Ah. ;-; sorry, this was no-good ;-; Sorry Leooooooo, hope you liked it even a littleeeeee.

~Shintori Khazumi

#mayakuro #shoujo kageki revue starlight #revstar #starira #fanfic #saijou claudine #tendou maya #aijo karen #hoshimi junna #parody #sleeping beauty

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kyber-kisses · 5 years ago

Text

I Know

Dean Winchester x Reader

Warnings: character death, angst, cursing, mild descriptions of wounds and torture.

Summary: almost a year after the readers death, Dean finds himself at the mercy of a witch who knows one of his only weaknesses. You.

A/n: because I’m slowly dying of boredom I decided to do Bad Things Happen bingo. Please send in your preference for the next square!

Fucking Witches. Dean Winchester was officially done with their shenanigans and messed up thought processes. It was like they had a flare for the dramatic. If they were so into killing folks. Why couldn’t they just do it quickly?

Finding himself bound tightly to the old chair in the rundown house the witch had been residing in, Dean for once wished he had dragged Sam along with him on this case. If Sam was here there was no way the witch would still be alive.

Instead here he was. Tied in place and basically steeping in thick silence. How this bitch has got the drop on him was still beyond him. The last thing he remembered before waking up here was driving to one of the witnesses house. He didn’t remember getting out of the car or being tied up. It was almost as if it had all happened in the blink of an eye.

He had already tried struggling and pulling at his restraints but to no avail. The ropes were probably laced with spell work along with the chair, seeing as he couldn’t even shift the price of furniture across the floor. Either that or it was bolted to the floor.

“Son of a bitch-“ he hissed, slightly out of breath from pulling on the ropes. His head whipping around in hopes of finding something to help him get out, but the room was empty of everything except himself.

“Well look who decided to wake up.” It was like she was waiting for the perfect moment, because not a second later the young witch stepped out from beyond the shadows, her black hair hanging in ringlets as her lips twisted into a bright red smile.

Going through his choices quickly, Dean chose to go with the playing dumb act, pretending he had no idea what was going on. Maybe, just maybe he could somehow gain the upper hand.

“I feel like there’s been a misunderstanding. I don’t have a clue as to what is going on.”

“Oh but I think you do. You're a hunter.”

“A what? I don’t know what that is. I was just in town to meet up with some old friends.”

The witch smiled again, stalking closer to the bound Winchester, a small hexbag gripped in her freshly polished nails, the polish reflecting the orange candle light slightly. “Oh don’t play dumb with me. You're not just a hunter. You're Dean Winchester.”

Oh for fucks sake. Of course this witch knew who he was. Could he ever catch a break?

“Oh well, ya caught me.” He gave in, flashing her a grin. “Now you want an autograph or something?” Time to think of another plan. If he had enough time to that is.

“Oh no, I thought we’d have some fun first.” Her white smile becoming more menacing as she stopped in front of him, tilting his chin upward and fully catching his gaze.

“No offense Sweetheart, but I ain’t interested.”

“Oh I know. You only ever had eyes for miss Y/N Y/L/N, isn’t that right?” She cooed, her smile widening when his face hardened, his mouth snapping shut, eyes blazing. “Oh struck a nerve did I?”

“How do you-“

“How do I know about her? Oh well that’s easy. I’ve been watching you Winchesters for quite sometime.” She explained, moving to tuck the hexbag into one of the inner pockets of his canvas jacket. “Dean and Y/N. Friends to. . .- well not quite lovers. You were too late for that, weren’t you?”

Everything in him wanted to lash out at her, make her regret ever saying your name, but once more the ropes restricted him from doing so. His struggle barely doing anything to loosen the binds. “So help me if you don’t shut up I’m gonna rip your tongue out.” He growled, feeling the pure white hot rage crawl up his spine.

“Must have been painful losing her, especially when you loved her so much. Only- you never did tell her that did you?”

“I said shut the hell up!”

She was toying with him. Pulling at all the loose strands of his soul. If people really knew Dean Winchester they would know that the key to fully unraveling him was to bring you up. You death had crushed him in more ways than one and now this bitch was using it against him.

“Like I said before, Dean. Let’s have some fun.” She smiled, tapping him on the nose before muttering an incantation under her breath, backing away slowly.

“What the hell did you do to me?”

The hunter was met with silence as she gave him a wink, disappearing around the corner. “Just having some fun and games. Good luck, pretty boy!”

And just like before he went back to struggling against the bindings, the thick rope burning his wrists as he twisted and pulled. He had to get the hex bag off him before it- before it-

It was like a switch had been pulled because not a second later he felt his eyes get heavy and his shoulders slumped, pulling him head first into unconsciousness. When he opened them again he found himself no longer in the rundown house but on a darkened hillside,the moon being the only source of light across the black landscape.

It took him a minute before he finally realized where he was. His eyes falling shut in hopes of finding himself anywhere but there. This was where he had found you, your blood caked body sitting limp and cold against the lone tree not too far off.

This was the night he lost you.

It was like a bucket of ice had been dumped down the back of his shirt as memories came knocking into him like bricks. It was just some fight. You had yelled yourself hoarse after Dean and Sam had returned from a hunt they decided not to tell you about. You had been furious and scared when you didn’t know where they were. And Dean ended up yelling right back, saying things that to this day haunt him. He was trying to keep you safe- and yet everything back fired right in his face. You had stormed off in a rage only for some vamps to find you and—

He clenched his jaw, battling down the memory. He had to figure out how to get out of this magically induced nightmare. He couldn’t live through this again. The first time nearly killed him.

“Dean.”

At the sudden voice he felt his body seize up. No. No this wasn’t real. It wasn’t you.

“Dean.” This time there was more force in your tone, and Dean let himself turn, his breath leaving his lungs as the sight of you.

When he woke up he was gonna gut that witch six ways from Sunday. That bitch was taking evil to a whole new level.

Sure enough, there you stood. Your hair framing your hollowed face as you bore into him, your throat covered in gashes and cuts littered your arms and legs. You looked exactly the same as when he had found you.

“Y/N-“ struggling to speak, he inhaled.

“Words, Dean. Use them.”

“How is this-“

“Witches Dean. C’mon use your damn brain for once. “ your tone becoming menacing as you stepped closer, your bare feet moving heel to toe as you moved through the grass. “But it’s me.”

“You’re disappointed in me, aren’t you?” He sighed, jade eyes glazing over with unshed tears as he watched you. He had so many things he needed to say and yet? They were caught in his throat, a part of him still telling him you were just a hallucination conjured up by the witch.

“Slightly, yes.”

“Y/N, I’m so sorry. I never should have yell—“

“Don’t.” You raises a hand, silencing the hunter in front of you. “You don’t get to be sorry. I’m dead, Dean.”

“I know. And I never should have let you walk out of the bunker after that fight.”

“That was the whole reason for the fight in the first place!” You yelled, eyes widening. “Because you wouldn’t let me go on the damn hunt! You put me on lock down without telling me! Do you have any idea what it’s like to wake up and find the people you love the most gone without a word? And then you said you were keeping me safe!” You paused, sucking in a breath. “ Im a hunter, Dean! Or was. Either way you stopped me from helping and doing my job!”

“I know that now, and I am sorry.” His voice breaking as he looked at you. You didn’t deserve this. You deserved so much better. “I loved you too much to risk putting you in danger.”

Your jaw clenched, eyes on the verge of creating tears. “Then why didn’t you tell me that when I was alive?”

“Because I didn’t know how. And you can hate me all you want but I need you to know that I am sorry.”

He could practically see the anger draining from your face- only for it to be replaced with heartbreak and tear stained cheeks. “I bet you are. And do you want to know what the worst part of it all was? I died alone and I died scared.” You own voice wavering as you looked at the older Winchester, successfully shattering his heart all over again. “I died thinking you hated me.”

That. That was what he had always feared. Ever since he found you he had wondered what you had been thinking. With those six little words you broke the remaining pieces that had somehow managed to stay together inside him. He could never make this right. It was too late.

“I think we’re done here. You better wake up.” You have him one last glare before turning on your bare heel, walking off into the dark, the moon casting stark shadows across your frame.

“Y/N, wait!”

With one more blink he found himself back in the falling apart house. He expected to be looking up into the eyes of the witch but instead he was met with the worried cobalt blue eyes of a certain trench coated angel.

“Cas?” The words coming out confused as he felt the hallucination induced tears slide off his face. “What the hell happened?”

The angel tilted his head as he began working on bindings around the hunters wrists. “You prayed earlier. I came.”

“What about the witch?”

“Dead. When I killed her it broke you out of your trance.”

Slowly rising from the chair, Dean rubbed at his tender wrists. “Shame.”

“That I saved you?”

“No, thank you for that by the way. Shame that she’s dead. Would’ve liked to end her myself after what she did to me.”

Heading towards the door, Cas was hot on his heels, curiosity easily getting the best of the celestial. “What did she do?”

“Doesn’t matter anymore. It’s done with.” Digging through his coat pockets, Dean produced the keys to the impala, his new mission already set in stone inside his head.

“Where are you going?”

“Somewhere I have yet to visit in a while.”

“Would you like me to come with?” Cas spoke, knowing exactly where Dean was headed without him having to say so. Whatever the witch had made him see it was the final push Dean needed.

“Nah. It’s alright.I need to do this alone.” Throwing open the driver side door, Dean paused to flip the keys in his hand. “But thanks man. You know for coming and pulling my ass out of the fire. I appreciate it.”

“Of course. Anytime.”

*. *. *. *. * .

Even if the numbers on the dashboard read 1:30AM, Dean still found himself putting the impala in park at the edge of the cemetery on the outskirts of Lebanon. Moonlight curved around headstones and the grass was still damp from the earlier rain. Lampposts still lit up the space partially with orange light as the hunter weaves through the headstone, stopping in his tracks once he found yours.

He and Sam had given you a hunters funeral but he still insisted on getting you a headstone. It gave him a place to visit- even if he had yet to until this moment.

“I know it wasn’t really you in the hallucination.” He breathed, hands stuck deep into his pockets as he stared down your name carved into the piece of granite. “But it didn’t hurt any less. That- that illusion of you said some things that in truth made some sense to me. Things I have been telling myself ever since I lost you.”

A soft warm breeze ran through the cemetery, ever so slightly tickling his skin. It was easier to find words here. It was quiet. It allowed him no worries over who else might be listening. You used to say that the dead speak to those who listen. He was listening as best he could.

“If you really died hating me I am so sorry. I should never have held you back. If I hadn’t we never would have gotten into that fight and you never would have stormed out. In the end it was still my fault.” He paused.”I could never hate you.” He could feel the hot tears gathering in his eyes again as he inhaled, bringing his gaze skyward in hopes of keeping the tears in. “I think I was just scared. When I realized I loved you - that I was in love with you. I just wanted to tuck you away and keep you safe from the world. But that’s not how those things work. It took me too long to realize that and I’m so sorry.”

His eyes went back to the granite headstone, the moonlight catching the polished rock just right so that your name shone.

Please be listening.

“I should have told you. I should have told you and not tried to bury it.” His voice cracked. “I love you Y/N. Always have and always will.”

And with that he kissed his index and middle finger, pressing it lightly against the cool granite that was the last piece of you on this earthly plane. It would be the closest he ever came to kissing you.

As he turned to walk back through the cemetery another warm gust of wind went past him, ruffling his hair and he swore- even if it sounded insane out loud that he heard your voice interwoven through the breeze.

“I know.”

End.

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#bi-danvers0 #dean imagine #dean winchester angst #dean winchester x reader #dean winchester one shot #spn x reader #supernatural

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kamatael · 4 years ago

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Greetings. This is Egor, my spiritual name is Kamatael. You can always write to me at [email protected] if you want to chat. Today is May 21, 2021 and I decided to write this information. I want to touch on many topics in order to show the general picture of what is happening now. I ask the holy spirit for strength in prayer to tell all the necessary things, amen. I belong to the Orthodox Church.

I will begin with the revelation of the cross of Belial, or the satanic cross. You may have noticed how various people, such as singers or prostitutes, wear Christian crosses around their necks. Spiritually, such crosses do not worship Jesus Christ. I was in the spirit world and ended up in some kind of laboratory. I saw Satanists there, as well as Reptilians. One reptilian spoke to me. "Many people are deceived. They see the cross on us and think that we are worshiping Jesus. But this is not so, naive people. In fact, it is the cross of our God, Lucifer. It is the cross of Belial. It only looks like a Christian cross. It is worn reptilians to hide their essence and deceive you, as well as our servants on Earth. Look here. "

I saw a cross appeared in front of me. He was white. "This is the cross of our master. In this way we deceive people." After that I woke up. I saw a similar cross on the neck of Tony Ferguson, the mma fighter. In the past, I've talked about UFC hell of a tournament. Tony Ferguson wears such a cross. After losing, he tweeted a picture of Jesus on the cross of Calvary, and how he was given a painful hold. This is blasphemy in disguise. Therefore, if you see a cross on someone, it does not mean that this person serves Jesus Christ.

Now let's move on. Recently, the number of demonic attacks on me has increased. I saw the road. The demon told me, "You are a man, do you know that it costs a Christian just a little deviates from the truth, as he is already on a different road, to hell?" The next day I heard the voice of a demon in my dream. "Your God is coming to Earth soon. His coming is near." Then a mermaid wrote to me on the Internet and began to threaten that I crossed their path. I had to fight in the spirit world. After the fight, I saw a big man in front of me. He was bigger than me and had a sword. "I am your personal guardian. God's revelation is a good book. Satanists and sorcerers exploit your weak points. Be careful."

I woke up. The next day I saw a huge snake that wanted to attack me, but I was able to escape from it. She moved very quickly. Let's remember the Bible, the devil walks like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Now I want to talk about the dangers of anime and mundane music. I know that this is a hackneyed topic and there is a lot of talk about it. But I will also say a few words. The problem is that many Christians lose their grip and succumb to worldly things. I studied the demonic influence of the Sailor Moon anime. About the warrior of the moon. The moon is a symbol of the occult and is often used in anime, along with pentagrams, they insert rock music there, to summon demons, sexy women, so that sex demons can influence people, as well as curses and they constantly say there, "damn, heck". These are all spells of the dark forces.

After watching the anime, I went to bed. I dreamed that I was washing in the shower and a girl from this anime was sticking to me, but her eyes were black. “Get away from me, Satan,” I said to this illusion and woke up. Prodigal demons started working immediately after watching. I found anime with names such as "Beelzebub", the prince of demons mentioned in the Bible, as well as "death note", this is the book of hell, the names of dead souls. The devil loves to praise himself through anime. Already from the names it is clear that these anime are made in hell. In the spirit I saw a huge demon in hell, this is the scribe of hell. He holds a fiery feather in his paws and gives revelations to anime producers. Under his leadership, such a satanic cartoon as "spawn" was released, as well as comics.

Then I started to study the popular Japanese anime "Bleach". In the splash screen, I immediately saw a pentagram, as well as blasphemy over the bright angels. In one of the episodes, they showed the Bible and the hero said, "Damn, this is not what I want." Further, a parody of the crucifixion of Jesus and blasphemy against the spirit of the saint was shown, when a fiery dove wanted to kill a girl. And then a hero appeared who called himself Lucifer and the hell gate. I watched 64 episodes in a row and then they put in more rock music and for a couple of days I didn't feel important. This can be characterized in one word - devilish schizophrenia. A huge spiritual negative impact on the psyche of immature and not understanding children, who is watching, the illusory jungle of demons, a mirage.

I won't watch it anymore, even for study. Then I studied the lyrics of some of the singers and saw the demonic language that Christians and Satanists understand. Mention of hell, fire and souls. Then a demon of music appeared to me, who called himself "Didjetal". He paralyzed my body and wanted to suck my spirit out, but he failed. Since I have touched on the topic of music, I move on to the next important topic - Eurovision.

I myself do not watch this show, but from the news I learned that one of the singers called her song "the devil". I am writing this and my phone is very buggy. Demons prevent me from writing this. So great is their anger at this information. So, when I saw this in the news feed, I decided to find out more.

"El Diablo" (The Devil) - a dance mix performed by Greek singer Elena Tsagrinu reached the final of the Eurovision Song Contest -2021, which is now taking place in Rotterdam. The final itself will take place on May 22.

“We must get rid of this blasphemy,” said one of the priests. “She is an insult to Cyprus and is a danger to our children.” “This is Satan worship,” protester Eleni, 62, told Ioannou. “The old Eurovision was so good. And now Satan is in charge there. " Residents of a nearby house decided to "troll" the protesters and played the song "El Diablo" at full volume.

The Cypriot Broadcasting Corporation PIK has stated that the song is actually about a battle between good and evil. It is worth noting that "El Diablo" is not the only song at Eurovision 2021 dedicated to a fallen angel. The Norwegian performer TIX performed the composition "Fallen Angel", the performer himself appeared on stage with the wings of an angel, and devils roamed around the singer, to which he was tied with chains.

I see that even an experienced Orthodox woman, 62 years old, said, "Previously, Eurovision was good." Earlier? it has always been devilish. What's in the 1980s, what's today. The only difference is that now the dark forces are acting more openly, and not veiled, as before. Only a few dozen people came to this rally in Cyprus. This speaks well of how few soldiers of Jesus Christ are not indifferent to the situations that are taking place in the world. Small flock, so it is written in the Bible, and so it is. Not everyone who calls himself a Christian will go to heaven. Jesus spoke of this while he was on earth. In general, this whole situation is just a shame for Orthodox Cyprus. I understand that any country, including my Russia,disgraced at this satanic meeting, but it was the representative of Cyprus who spoke more openly than others. In general, this is another sign of the end and the imminent coming of the Savior, and I do not advise Christians to watch these satanic, demonic games. Don't give them glory from watching their show. Don't give praise to demons. Amen.

And the last thing I want to talk about in this piece of information. Consecrate all your data on the Internet with the blood of Jesus Christ. I have noticed that the number of Satanists, witches and sorcerers has increased, especially on dating sites. They also contacted me. These applications, such as wattsap, youtube, vk, included a lot of demons and their goal is the murder and destruction of the children of God. They conjure and damage photographs, put spiritual chains and, due to the spells of magicians, tie people to this dark, digital world. I saw many mermaids seducing men, as well as demons disguised as humans. There is a lot of black magic and lies in these places. It is best to delete all your data, but if you are there, be careful.

Satan is very cunning and easily deceives many. With the help of black magic and curses, they killed a lot of people through social networks and threw them into hell. They have special scouts, I ran into them. They closely follow everyone and they have access to any of your data - photos, messages. They even showed it to me. Therefore, there is no data security. Don't believe this. As soon as you register on social networks, the scouts immediately observe you. If they see that you are a Christian or that you are preaching, then they become the object of increased attack and interest. Satanists and witches connect to you and begin your destruction. They are looking for weak points through which to kill you, or hurt you.

If they fail to kill, they will try to take you away from Christ and the body of Christ. These places have become very dangerous. They previously belonged to demons, but today the Christian is in them like death. No acquaintance, no woman, or man, in my opinion, is worth risking salvation and life in these places. I conclude my testimony, who have read to the end, be blessed. Amen!

#christianity #religion #nature #sports #spirituality #evrovizija #satanic #ortodox

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the-bee-is-lost · 4 years ago

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Logically Insane

Triggers include: death, murder, which can be kinda graphic, and insanity

Darkness rolled across the sky, plunging the town into the eternal darkness that had been prophesied about. Looking over the sea of clouds from his mountain cave Logic couldn’t help but be proud of himself, of what he had created.

For years he had been told that one day he would defeat a great evil to come over this land, one that would be the end of all light, and destroy all hope. He was raised under the idea that he was the hero of this story, but when a new hero rose to power there was only one thing for him to do. Become his own evil.

And now, he had done it, he had done exactly as he wanted. Dark magic flowed through his veins, and a soul no longer resided in him, having traded it away for power. That is what all men dream of, is it not? To have the powers of gods, to create or destroy life, to save or doom, and that is what Logan, or more so Logic, had.

Nowhere was safe from this darkness, no torch nor fire could light the sky, destined to be an endless darkness forever. There was no hero now, already long killed by our villain. If you were to ask about him, you would meet the same fate, perhaps worse. Logic had no morality, having traded that along with his soul, so to beg for mercy would do you no good now.

Insanity began to overtake Logan not long after the new hero started rising in fame. Glory, praise, gifts of gratitude, power, all things Logan had ever wished for were so easily given to this boy, this “Hero” as people called him. But what was a hero, without a villain?

So Logan gave him a villain, one of immense power, someone that he knew the hero could not take. He used anything he could, wither it be force, or more, fun, tricks. Manipulation was always one of Logan’s favorites, and now, with his newly claimed power, it was just so much more fun.

It is said to keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer, but that is a very bad idea. This hero had tried to save Logan, to tempt him back to the light with promises of redemption, or forgiveness. But those were not what Logan wanted. He didn’t need forgiveness, and he certainly didn’t want it, he had power, and if he was to go back to the way it was, he would be giving that up! But of course, Logan knew how to play this game.

So he agreed to try, to let the hero befriend him, to trust him, all the while collecting personal information from the hero. It was easy after that, simply kidnap the person our hero held dear. This happened to be his girlfriend. It was a shame Logan had to kill her, she really was a lovely woman, but of course it was no loss for Logan.

Our hero however, had a far more extreme reaction to his girlfriend being murdered in front of him. Screams of anguish were heard throughout the town, the hero having been thrown into a blinding rage and trying to attack Logan. But the psychopathic villain had no problems in grabbing the hero as he lunged at him, and snapping his neck.

That solved that problem.

After this Logan went to his old home. The castle of the royal family, his family. Killing his father was easy. His father had thrown him away, pushed him down almost as soon as the new hero had risen, giving him Logan’s place. Logan had no remorse and he walked to his father’s study, opening the doors without even having to touch them, enough rage flowing through him that his energy took care of that for him. His cape billowed as he stalked forwards, his father frozen in his chair.

“Hello, Father,” Logan spat.

“Logan, what are you doing? Why are you he--” but he was cut off, Logan’s hand now wrapped around his throat.

“I think we all know why I am here. Goodnight Father, see you in hell,” Logan smiled evilly, no regret anywhere in him.

It only took a few moments for the king to cease breathing, struggling slightly in the beginning, but losing faith quickly, all hope of his son stopping leaving him as his vision blurred and everything went dark.

Logan dropped him in almost disgust after he was sure his father was dead, no longer wanting anything to do with him. He moved on, leaving the study, the next location clear in his mind.

His mother might cause slight issues, but Logan was sure he would be able to deal with it almost as well as he had with his father. The carpet that traveled all throughout the castle muffled his footsteps, making it that much easier for him to sneak into his mother’s bedroom, where she was sleeping.

It was easy enough to kill her, only needing to cast a small spell on her and she was taken care of, no fight needed.

Slipping out the window Logan jumped off of the balcony that accompanied his mother’s room. He began to fall, but at the last moment, a few feet off of the ground, he began to sore. Rocketing up into the sky he put his arms out, a small part of him exhilarated at the feeling of being In the sky. Another part of him knew that a fall from this high would kill him almost instantly, and the lust to try it was so strong.

What would it feel like? Would his life flash before his eyes as he fell? Would he even go anywhere, having already sold his soul to a demon? Would he be stuck in hell like he believed? So many questions, none with answers. But something in him told Logan that it was not quite time for him to die. There was so much more to do, so much more to fix and control, who would do that if he was gone? Who would watch over the perfect world he created?

No one, that was the logical answer. No one would rule his world like he did, no one would do it right, so that is what Logan must do, he must be the Logic of the world, he would be the one people came to with their problems. He would be the one they prayed to.

So as Logic flew across the sky, his sky, he looked across the world he had made, and he saw that it was good.

#bad #logan sanders #evil logan sanders #villain #ending #murder #death #sanders sides #sanders sides fanfiction #angst.....?

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injanery · 5 years ago

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UMD Video: A History of film on the PSP

The 1990s through to the early 2000s was a frantic time in the development of portable media devices, from mini TVs to CD and cassette players, and of course phones, MP3 players, and video game consoles. By 2010, consumers could take entire libraries of media content wherever they went. Movies and TV shows, however, were relatively late to the party, limited by large file sizes and the bulkiness of laptops and portable DVD players at the time.

Various attempts were made in the late-nineties and early-noughties to bring affordable video-playing devices to the market, including the VideoNow unit that would play kids TV shows in black-and-white. In 2004 Nintendo entered the market in collaboration with 4Kids Entertainment in the form of GBA Video: cartridges that stored episodes from children's shows and even a few movies for playback on the Game Boy Advance. The quality of the footage wasn't great, however, with GBA Video playing in 240x160 resolution—and with a chugging frame rate. Sales weren't great and the format didn't catch on.

Nevertheless, GBA Video did prove that distributors could use the existing install-base of portable game consoles to sell more than just games. Console manufacturers were beginning to realise this too—Nokia's N-Gage was a phone/game console cross-over that could also play video and music, while Nintendo's DS line of devices were marketed as digital planners and cognitive training tools as well as gaming units. Sony, meanwhile, had experience in the multimedia game with their PlayStation 2 home console. The inclusion of the ability to read DVDs was a major coup, giving Sony a big edge over competitors like Sega's Dreamcast.

With the success of the PS2, it was perhaps only natural that Sony would try to replicate this multimedia magic when they entered the portable console space with their PlayStation Portable, launched in December 2004 in Japan, March 2005 in North America, and September 2005 in Europe. Of course, a properly portable device was never going to be big enough to support DVDs, so they had to develop a brand new format that was up to the task. Sony's solution? The Universal Media Disc, or UMD.

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UMD is a proprietary miniature optical disc format that can hold 1.8GB of data. It came encased in a plastic shield to protect it from knocks and scratches, and was only ever used for the PSP. When the PSP was revealed during Sony's press conference at E3 2004, Kaz Hirai, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, stressed that Sony saw this console as a multimedia platform, and that the UMD would support full-length films, branded as UMD Video, as well as games. Trailers for Spider-Man 2 and Final Fantasy XII: Advent Children were shown playing on a PSP unit, and when the US launch date came, the first 1 million PSP Value Packs (priced at $250) contained a Spider-Man 2 UMD. Masa Chatani, Chief Technology Officer of Sony Computer Entertainment, expressed great enthusiasm in media interviews, saying: 'In the U.S. We have already met with the major studios. They pretty much love the PSP and the quality of the UMD.'

Sony announced an initial UMD price range of $19.95 to $28.95, with the lower range applying to movies previously released on DVD, and the higher range for new films launching on UMD and DVD at the same time. Each UMD would contain the full-length movie encoded in 720x480, the same as an average DVD, but this would be scaled down to 480x272 when playing on the PSP's screen. Due to storage constraints (the average DVD could hold 4.7GB of data to the UMD's 1.8GB), special features such as deleted scenes and 'making of' reels would often be completely absent. And unlike PSP games, UMD Videos were region-locked.

Despite these limitations, early signs were encouraging for UMD Video. Within a few months the format could boast 70 available titles in the US and over 500,000 overall sales. Available titles grew to over 200 within half a year, including pornographic titles in Japan, encouraged by the PSP's own strong sales. Two movies released by Sony Pictures, Resident Evil 2 and House of Flying Daggers, passed 100,000 sales within a month—whereas the first DVD to pass that mark, Air Force One, took 9 months. Sony UK chief Ray Maguire said in October 2006 that Sony was 'pretty pleased with UMD,' commenting that it had 'a fantastic attachment rate'.

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It wasn't long before cracks began to show, however: and that isn't just a reference to the UMD casing's tendency to break, rendering the disc unusable. Film studios and retailers started to express concerns about the format's long-term sales performance. In the US, Wal-Mart and Target had already begun pulling away from UMD Video in early 2006, while anonymous executives from Universal Studios Home Entertainment told the Hollywood Reporter in March 2006: 'It's awful. Sales are near zilch. It's another Sony bomb, like Blu-ray.' An executive from Paramount similarly said of UMD: 'No one's even breaking even on them.' In response to such criticism, Benjamin Feingold of Sony Pictures Home Entertainment blamed the disappointing sales on people ripping DVDs and then playing them on PSP via the SD card slot.

Sony began teasing an adapter to play UMD on television, and the company continued to show public optimism about the format even as major studios and retailers pulled the plug entirely. PSP senior marketing manager John Koller told Pocket Gamer in June 2007 that: 'The future of movies on UMD is great. We saw a 35 per cent growth year-on-year from 2005 to 2006, which clearly demonstrates a growing interest.' Significantly, sales in Japan had jumped tenfold following major price-cuts. Koller said this was also the result of movie distributors 'calibrating' their UMD offerings to target the PSP's primary user base: males under the age of 25. This helps explain the composition of UMD Video's library, which is heavily weighted towards action, sci-fi, and comedy films.

Despite the positive signals coming from Sony, from 2007 things started to get quieter on the UMD Video front. In part this was down to the industry's growing focus on digital distribution, and while Koller insisted that the digital pivot did not spell the end for UMD, in 2009 Sony launched the digital-only PSP Go model. And, of course, the company scrapped UMD support altogether for its next portable console, the PlayStation Vita.

Nevertheless, the UMD Video library continued to grow steadily. The most complete list online counts over 650 video discs, but the list is missing many known entries, and the real figure may be more in the region of 800. When compared to the 36 cartridges released for GBA Video, UMD Video looks like a runaway success, with far greater support from third parties and a much more diverse library including action films, comedies, TV shows, anime, live music concerts, cinema classics, Chinese hits, horrors, and yes, adult films. All three Matrix films and all eight Harry Potter films were released as UMDs, along with numerous Batman movies, Academy Award-winning masterpieces like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and episodes of popular TV shows such as Doctor Who. ***

Sony Pictures released its last UMD Video discs in 2010, and the final releases overall came from Warner Home Video in 2011 with a full 8-UMD Harry Potter box-set. And with that, so ended the last major attempt at a game console-specific proprietary video format. With so many easy ways to watch video content in our hands today, it is very unlikely that we will see anything like it again.

These discs haven't yet become a major focus in the collecting world, but there are reasons to believe that might change. In 2018 UMD Video entered into the top-10 most-contributed formats on Filmogs. And as the noughties become more distant and the PSP becomes a 'retro' console, I suspect UMD Video will take its proper place as both an interesting oddity and a genuinely intriguing piece of media history.

#gaming #movies #psp #playstation #sony #history #media #umd #cinema #entertainment

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askroahmmythril · 6 years ago

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A Look Back at the Past 10 Years

I had wanted to put this in the video description for the 10th Gag Reel vid : https://youtu.be/ovzRypMF_BM However, it told me the description was too long. So I’ll post it here instead and link it from the video info. Basically, these are just some thoughts and memories looking back at my first major video from each of the previous years’ worth of content.

2009 : "Mega Man 1 - Cut Man Perfect Run" Ahh, my first video, back where it all started. Yeah, my vocal energy has changed a lot since then as I got more confident in what I'm doing, kind of found my own groove, that sort of thing. I've had people ask if I'd ever go back and re-do these with my current energy or what have you, but I think it's important to remember the past, it's kind of interesting seeing how I've grown since then, if that makes sense. That and I really would rather not re-do some of these stages again, thanks.

2010 : "Mega Man 9 - Splash Woman Perfect Run - Part 1" Continuing on with the Perfect Runs, by this point, I had acquired the Gamebridge, my first video capture device. It had its issues, sure, but hey, it opened up a lot of possibilities for things I could work on. Also interesting to see, this was a "Part 1," due to the old YouTube video length limitations. When I first started, videos couldn't be longer than 11 minutes. It later upgraded to 15, and now these days, no more limits.

2011 : "Let's Play Secret of Mana - Pt 1 - Who So Pulleth Out This Sword..." Secret of Mana is probably one of my favorite projects I've done on the channel. I have a lot of nostalgia for this game due to playing it with my mum way back in the days of the SNES. It was a project I had intended to do for awhile, but other things kept getting in the way. It led to an inside joke when the people on Pink's old forums made a Touhou-style game where I was the Stage 5 boss. One of my spell cards was called Event Horizon "Delayed Mana."

2012 : "The Situation At Hand, and Also Endless Mega Man 3" Something I always try to do is keep my fans and viewers informed if something has gone pear shaped on my end. I do a lot of info updates on my social media, mostly Twitter these days, Tumblr if I need more room to talk. If however something is going to cause very long delays, I try to upload update videos to fully discuss things. This particular update video was, sadly, due to having to take time away to deal with the aftermath of my mum's elderly aunt passing away.

2013 : "Mega Man Maximum Demo - Bell Man Stage" Okay, so I cheated a little on this one. There was actually a video in 2013 that came earlier than this, but it was a short five minute audio only update in which I discussed the then "secret project" (Eternal Darkness Blind Run) taking longer than expected to finish up. During the downtime, I ended up recording this demo. It was really nicely done, though sadly, I haven't heard much since about progress on the game. It's one that honestly I wish had gotten finished, it seemed quite promising.

2014 : "Where Has the Dragon Been? - The Medical Lowdown" The first vid for this year wasn't even in January, and ow, there was a good reason for it. This was the era of Appendageddon. For those not in the know, late December of 2013, my appendix went boom. So during January, I was under strict orders to take things easy after the surgery. By February, the stitches were out, everything was healing well, and I was finally starting to get back to normal routines, and so I was able to finally tell the tale of my apparently horrifically large mutant appendix that had somehow wrapped itself around other organs. Seriously my doctor couldn't resist telling everyone stories about how unusual it was. It was kinda weird yo and squicked me out a good bit. And then he wanted to show me pictures he apparently took... Thanks no.

2015 : "Let's Play Silent Hill Homecoming - Pt 34 - Hard Mode : the Abridged Version" Generally, I finish my horror LPs during October, November at the latest. Of course, this doesn't count issues of technical difficulties like Silent Hill Shattered Memories or Resident Evil's Advance Mode. Sadly, this delay had nothing to do with technical difficulties. In early November of 2014, when I had been working on the Silent Hill Homecoming LP, my aunt passed away in the hospital, losing her long battle with cancer. This loss hit my family hard, so I had to take a good bit of time off for this one.

2016 : "Let's Play Megaman Battle Network 4 - Pt 76 - Grinding and Gunplay" Hoo boy. The MMBN4 project. This one took a LONG time to finish. Seriously, this project lasted 90 vids, stretching from Part 1 on March 1, 2015, to Part 90 on July 11, 2016. To be fair, there were phases where I simply couldn't work on it due to things like our house's central air conditioning going out during an intense summer heat wave (yeah, wearing headphones in that was not fun) or taking breaks for things like that year's October horror project, but also, a lot of periods of burnout. When I say I want to wait to do MMBN5 until I truly feel like it? This kind of thing is why. I'm not quite ready to throw myself into that long of a project again just yet.

2017 : "Let's Play Spyro 2 : Ripto's Rage - Pt 18 - Regurgitate" Mostly what this reminds me is that I still need to take some time to do more testing with the Elgato card I now have so that I can hopefully do more PS2 and Gamecube era stuff again. I really want to get projects like Spyro 3 and Pikmin 2 going. Still also really hoping Spyro Reignited Trilogy gets a Switch release... As far as channel related stuff for this one, I don't remember too much going on around this point in time, just the average "working on the current project" type thing.

2018 : "Make a Good Mega Man Level 2 Blind Run - Pt 10 - Chomp Man" Another lengthy project, and another where things got delayed through January. This time, it was our internet connection breaking. Good ol' HughesNet, they're just the best. This had been after the lengthy setup of trying to get my room rearranged so I could get Groose (my current computer) up and running, which was experiencing a lot of delays due to the unfortunate fact that my step-uncle was in and out of the hospital. Sadly, in March of 2018, we lost him as well. The last ten years have definitely seen a lot of changes in our household. This project itself would also see further delays due to our internet breaking again to where I couldn't upload videos for awhile for some reason, and one of Groose's cooling fans breaking.

2019 : "Let's Play Cuphead - Pt 14 - The Haunted Mouse (1941)" And so, here we are on my 11th year of work. It's been quite a ride, and one I hope to continue for quite some time to come. I just want to thank all my fans, viewers, and supporters, whether you've been with me since the humble days of 2009, or if you've just joined us here on the channel. Your continued support and enjoyment of my work is truly what keeps me going, and hopefully there will be plenty more fun to be had in the years to come.

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overfedvenison · 6 years ago

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Alright, we've played three dnd sessions in my campaign now so I should actually write stuff down now....

Alright! Pathfinder Session 2.

The years since the War of the Horsemen have not been kind to the lands. At the old location of the enchanted woods, in the elven lands, where Plague fell, a terrible curse has been spreading and towns along the border have been disappearing one-by-one. We began as a group of recruits thrown together in a hurry to aid a town militia, sent to these cursed lands for our own reasons.

I was playing Charn. I am a student and a fighter - Fairly low-ranked - of the Storm Petrel Military Academy... It was founded by the fighter Cinna after she defeated the goblin lord in the War of the Horsemen, and was made to prevent another apocaypse. It is said the War was started, and our plane almost ended, due to the meddling of the gods. And so, in addition to combat training, military strategy, and knowledge of planes and demon-fighting, they teach a humanist philosophy that is largely anti-thiest.

My close ally is Pavia, a gunslinger of the region of Galt. A quiet sort that speaks French, she joined the Black Ravens at an early age. The Ravens are a close ally of the Storm Petrels, but more focused in their mission - They are dedicated primarily to firearms, and strength through superior technology. Essentially, they are a free army that assists the Petrels whenever possible and focus more on combat ability than the diverse subjects of the Petels.

The other notable characters this session were an Aasimar Cleric, and a Lizardfolk Bloodrager named Arka who had been send out by his tribe leaders to investigate the plagued lands...

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The area was misty, and the air heavy and toxic, as we approached the town. We required special breathing apparatuses consisting of a Bottle of Air and a tube to survive. Our goal was simply to assist the civilians in their escape of the land; in particular an Alchemist who could help us fight in this war through his research. The town was suitably barricaded, and armed commoners stood at the ready - The civilian militia.

The town was a small hamlet, centered around a church with a great tower one of the militia were using as a sniper's perch. Pavia joined him, as they watched the area. Before we could leave, it was called out that the Plagued were approaching - Common enemies in these lands that consisted of shambling corpses animated by some form of fungus.

The town militia shot as best they could, and took down their numbers. They swarmed, and choked up the gate inside. Arka, I, and a few others formed a wall to hold off the tide while the commoners blasted in. We stood there and endured many waves of these creatures, each of us getting battered and struck (Except the cleric and I, who found ourselves in... Better positions than others. I credited a proper education.)

Our defense here taught us a few things... First, the Plagued are indeed undead - The cleric blasted them with a Channel Energy which damaged them. However, they also grow resistant to any damage they take so it only worked once. We each have our own abilities... I tossed Acid Flasks at them while throwing a bit of shade at the cleric, one of our allies used Stomp, etc. By the end, we were simply linearly attacking as they were crawling over the bodies of their fallen comrades to get past.

Meanwhile, Pavia saw a group of the Plagued behaving differently and approaching from a flank. She shot one, and decided to abandon her sniper perch and so descended the ladder to try and cut the flank off from the town... But quickly found herself surrounded, tripped, and soon to be implanted with a seed by the unexpectedly strong enemies. In a moment of desperation, she scattered a cloud of Black Powder for her gun and ignited it with an Alchemist Fire - Killing all her enemies, and leaving her damaged on the ground.

Finally, we spotted one especially strange Plagued - One we eventually termed a Granfalloon. Latched on the back of a Plagued was a large, tentacled plant-beast puppeteering the creatures. We eventually learned that this as an intelligent "Leader" of sorts, and the rest are simply his minions in a hive mentality. We managed to subdue this one, and after the battle lock it in a chest, alive, for further study.

It was a valiant attempt, but one of the flanking group got past us and then exploded into a swarm of spores. This drove our horses mad, and brought swift death to a huge chunk of the town. The Alchemist escaped down the path, albeit without his lab...

We sat in the town church as we caught our breath after this battle. We took guns from the armoury, locked our specimen in a metal chest, and Pavia found a group of civilians still hiding underground (and was almost shot dead - A small misunderstanding.) It was not a great success, but about as good as we could hope for fighting an unknown enemy this early.

I recorded the Plagued, their Tactics, and the Granfalloon in my Spellbook - My notes may eventually form a bestiary for dealing with the Plagued Lands.

----

We caught our breath as best we could, and departed to a nearby town. On our way out, we saw a spirit of some kind raising the dead... We eventually discovered this was an Avatar of Hel, a goddess of plague possibly corrupting the forest. I recorded it in my spellbook.

Along the way, we spotted the Alchemist... The alchemist is an older, portly man not particularly fit and definitely not a warrior, but noble and helps however he is able.

Nonetheless, one of our members went up and slapped him for fleeing. I began to argue that, given the circumstances, that was the best decision he could have made and that a misplaced honor would simply get a lot of people killed. The lizardfolk, Arka, was having none of it though - He declared her a deserter and a coward, and in the tradition of his tribe, drew a weapon to execute him.

I tried to reason with Arka as well, but the lizardman was headstrong and stalwardt.

"Alright..." I said "In that case, in the tradition of the king's lands, I here-by act as his lawyer in a trial by combat" I drew my sword and stuck him, which caused the bloodrager to collapse immediately. "Ah... Perhaps I went a bit too strong" I mused.

The Alchemist altered his memory and kept him from dying, and we later played it off as if it were a side effect of the forest. I introduced myself to the alchemist, and commended him on escaping - Unlike the more traditional warriors of the group, I don't believe much in honor. We gave him the notes and the Granfalloon, and he said he could research these back in town.

However, the Militia leaders called us out quite succinctly on a lack of teamwork, and so split off from us. From here on to town, we were basically on our own.

----

We arrived in town, fatiguing ourself to flee with the civilians from the toxic lands. We had worn ourselves down, and in the small castle-town spent some time to rest and relax. Everyone did their own thing... I helped the Alchemist as best I could, Pavia learned a bit of the local tongue and hung out with a small group from Galt, the Cleric mostly stayed at the inn, and Arka mostly hung out in the Moat doing Lizard Things.

One day, we all got together for a beach day. We bought some alcohol from the tavern, and played a game of Darts, among other things. Pavia suggested that the loser of the game kiss the Lizardman, who was mystified at the concept. We thought it was funny, and all tried... It ended up being the Aasimar. Arka recorded this in her journal, to investigate more about this "Kiss"

We discussed some theology as well... The Aasimars themselves are the product of divine beings interfering in mortal affairs, and Pavia and I choose to try and avoid that in lue to humanity taking destiny into it's own hands. In this respect, we've been resisting her healing. We questioned her, and noted that she is throwing away her own fate to serve the whims of some greater diety... She responded by saying that she chose to serve, and that it is her own will to do so and not a destiny thrust upon her. We were doubtful, but it was overall a good character building moment - And one important if we want to start accepting her cure spells, meta-narratively.

---

A few days into our rest, and shortly before we were called to the Capitol of Angelpoint for further study and quests, we enjoyed a day off... Only to be invaded by elves.

These Elves are the former residents of the now-corrupted forest, and wore the symbol of Hel on their armor. They were clearly still intelligent, but corrupt and evil beings now... Formerly, they were sort of capricious and violent nature spirits, but overall good and trustworthy and were a helpful asset in the War.

They snuck in by pretending to be a caravan of travellers, painting their ironwood armor with a metal coating. As we learned, this armor was cursed in and of itself and part of their symptoms.... They unleashed a caravan of the Plagued to assault the town, shooting down the gate guards with pistols (likely scavenged - Only two had them.)

The elves were strong, slicing down the guards with a single hit. I, unarmored, trusted them to last a turn and so holed up in a very defensible position where I could shoot at them while prone. I got a solid shot in, but was then immediately cornered and cut down when the guards immediately died.

Fighting off the elves was rough for all of us, but Pavia and some guards were able to shoot down from a higher stairwell to strike down the intruders, leaving only a few to deal with in melee.

The Plagued were taken down by Arka, who was hanging out in the moat and so allowed us a "scissor attack" formation where he approached from behind. He, being a Lizardfolk Bloodrager, is very powerful when unarmored... Unlike the rest of us, who were severely outmatched.

Thanks to Arka's strength, we managed to press through and save the town. We autopsied these elves, and I recorded them in my Bestiary. By now, I think we have a firm idea of the events of the forest....

Basically, the Goddess Hel is utilizing the remnants of the Plague Horseman to corrupt the forest and expand, bringing danger to us all. Her avatars are raising undead for these nefarious, and expansionist, purposes, she's making new and terrible species, and the Elven Druids are similarly warped and recruited into an army. For what reason, we don't know... Regardless, it's another case of a God interfering in our plane for their own purposes. Which is something the Storm Petrels will want to know.

I've learned enough, and we were called back to Angelpoint... The leader of the Silver Brotherhood, High Commander Adrian, wanted to speak to us. Apparently the animals of the city have been acting violently, and disappeared into the town aqueduct. The path inside was ripped open by great vines - A sure sign of Druidcraft. It seems here, too, the fingers of Hel have been manipulating. We asked about possible spread of disease, explained what we think is happening, and getting the go-ahead, went inside to slay the animals within...

#dnd journal

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sweetinfires-blog · 7 years ago

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Demons [I]

Pairing: BTS x You (3 POV)

Genre: Demons!AU, Angst, Implied Smut (throughout series)

Word Count: 3,714

Summary: What happens when three Angels voluntarily taint their feathers to bask in sins? They may have just found themselves embodying the epitome of exactly that: The 7 Deadly Sins. Anger colliding with Pride, Lust enchanting Sloth, Gluttony overtaken with Greed. And Envy controlling all. Would these sins be able to carry out their tasks, or will they fall endlessly into the sweetness of evil?

Link: [1][2]

Rated: M (language)

Excerpt: Hearing the screams was amazing. F**k. I know we should be panicking like the other, but I looked at the other two, they had wicked smiles on their faces. Soojung’s little rescue attempt was fake. Just like the rest of the act.

"Well if it isn't Satan’s little bitches?" The most annoying voice to exist called out. I slowly turned around, along with Minji and Soojung. I was met face to face with Jeon Jungkook. He was walking up to us accompanied by Jung Hoseok and Kim Taehyung. His arrogant little smirk fueled my annoyance with every step he took. He stopped directly in front of me, hands in his pocket, looking as arrogant as always. "Is someone still upset over the fact that the big guy had to bring in three sweet girls to do the job you big 'strong' boys couldn't?" Soojung pouted, teasing him. She knew how to push them to their limit. "Ya! You li-" Jungkook started, but was cut short by a deep, velvety voice coming from the darkness at the end of the hall. "Please, shut the fuck up." Suddenly, Namjoon, our leader, emerged from the dark shadows. "You guys fight like children. Stop. We will being working together soon, and for it to work out everyone needs to get along," he reported, scowling at us as well as inspecting us head to toe. Kim Namjoon. The leader. Envy. One of the Seven Deadly Sins. We complete the rest. My name is Sana, and I am Anger. Minji is Sloth, and Soojung is Gluttony. We are the only three girls that are allowed carry the burden .. I mean honor .. of being Deadly Sins. We were the angels that fell from heaven. Wings that were once pure white tainted black and bloodstained. The other three sins were taken up by the other three; Jungkook as Pride, Taehyung as Lust, and Hoseok as Greed. All three were once ordinary mortals; all three did something that condemned them to Damnation. The reasonings for their sins are the reason they are here in Hell. No one knows their full stories, only that they all came at different periods of time. Namjoon had been here the longest. He is practically Satan’s son. He has never confirmed nor denied it. With his good looks, seductive eyes, and smooth voice, you wouldn't be able to say otherwise. Especially that devilish smirk accompanied by such illegal dimples. That evil smirk, that draws you to him. Namjoon stared at us one last time before nodding to signal our dismissal. Minji started to make her way to her room, giving us that 'hurry up and follow me nooooow' look. We followed behind her, not knowing what her intentions were. "Ahh, and like dogs, they travel in a pack," Jungkook laughed mockingly. Furiously, I turned back around and walked up to him, stopping with our faces inches apart. "Listen here, take all your shit and shove it back up your ass. I am so tired of you, and I can't wait until you get kicked out." I spat, staring deeply into his chocolate eyes. He yawned, looking down at me unfazed. "Oh Sana~ Unlike you,” Jungkook started as he brought out one hand from his pocket to land on my head. “I will never get kicked out of my place." He smirked while ruffling my hair. He was referring to heaven wasn't he. Before I could say anything else, Soojung took over. "Heaven couldn't handle us. God was done with us. Oh well. Who cares. Goodbye." She grabbed my arm, dragging me away. Jungkook leaned over, whispering something to Taehyung, while still keeping his eyes on me. I turned around, following Soojung and kept thinking of a way to get back at his conceited ass. Soojung POV Gluttony Fucking hell. She's always getting into trouble because of that boy. Jungkook loves to make her mad; it's his go-to thing. Like it’s planned. Just like Hoseok is always doing stupid shit to me. He likes to toss things at me or my general direction while making annoying little side comments, with his smug smile, bothering the hell out of me. I hate him. He's so irritating, but also undeniably attractive. I don't think I've ever seen him wear anything but a slim fit black suit. His gigantic black wings look great. I mean, all our wings look great, but his are the only ones that are pure black. With the red lights of hell illuminating off his pitch black feathers, they just stand out so much. “Let's get back to reality shall we?” Minji stated after observing me lost in thought.

Sana and I had made it back to Minji’s room, sitting down in different parts of her room. Minji was already in the center of her bed, laying out papers. Sana sat on the floor, criss crossing her legs, looking up at us. I sat on a chair that was near the end of the bed, looking over all the papers. "Okay, so we have to make a visit to earth soon, because there's a big festival going on. I feel like we could get away with a lot during it." Minji explained sending a wink indicating to mischief we would create. "Ohhh! Festival! " Sana exclaimed. She was the youngest, she loved shit like this. I'm only a year older than her, but she still acts like a child in comparison. Minji was the oldest out of the girls, always coming up with the plans. Her plans have never failed us once. I love how she thinks. "Okay! So.. we go up and go separate ways. Sana you go to where all the rides are at, Soojung -" "I'm going to the food stands, and you can't stop me." I interjected. I could feel my eyes widening from the thought of all the food and snacks in the human realm. Minji smiled, nodding in agreement. "Of course. I'm going to all the game stalls to check out everything. We meet back up maybe 4 hours after we arrive. How does that sound?" I nodded, and Sana gave a thumbs up. I got up and made my way to Sana helping her up the floor. "We’ll leave 3 days later at like 6pm sharp. That's when the sun starts to go down," Minji said. "Alright, bet." I responded. "Uh guys? What about the whole wings and horns thing?" Sana tilted her head, giving us a concerned look. Minji POV Sloth Damn, she's right. The wings can be easily hidden under our clothes or absorbed within our backs. The horns on the other hand... "I'll do some research; See if there are any potions or something to give us some humane features," I told her. "Sloth!? Doing research!? " Soojung gasped. "Bitch, I come up with all the plans. Shut up," I glared. "Yes ma'am," she sighed. She walked out of the room, Sana following right after. Before exiting the room, Sana turned around and waved with her big smile. I smiled back at her, waiting for her to fully exit. I got off the bed, made my way out the room and towards the library of our residence. It's like an endless mansion but only contains one floor. A shit ton of rooms, bathrooms, offices and random little places that are hard to find sometimes.

I reached the big doors of the library and pulled them open, hearing them close shut after I had entered. I went to the alchemy section of the library, searching for the right book containing certain potions or spells to transform us. After and hour of searching, I let out a groan of frustration from lack of research. "What's wrong with you?" I jumped, startled by the sudden voice. I turned around to find Taehyung right in front of me invading my personal space. "Just looking for something," I muttered as I tried to get away past him. "Let me help you." He followed closely behind me, and I could feel his eyes linger over me.

"I know every corner of this place." "No thanks," I rejected as I walked over to the sorcery part of the library containing books written by witches, wizards, and warlocks. I found a book that looked reliable, grabbed it and walked away. "Minji..." Tae softly whispered behind me as he neared my right ear. I know this is a game. All three of those boys are always play games with us. I'm so tired of them half the time, but working and cooperating with them is something I'm required to do. I shrugged off his attempt and walked out of the library, making my way back to my room to start researching through the book. "Hair..healing..human potion!" I muttered to myself as I flipped through the pages. YES! I found it! I think?

It requires so many thing, and now I'm really too lazy to even get up and start. Ugh. I'll send Soojung to go get everything later. I was feeling pretty tired, and even though you could never tell when it was day or night down here your body could feel it. I got ready for bed putting everything away, and then went under my sheets passing out almost immediately. Sana POV Anger It was the day of the festival! I've never been so excited for something. I know Minji and Soojung had been up to something these past two days, but they didn't ask for help so I didn't interfere with anything. Instead, I wandered around hell sometimes hanging out with Joon and helping him with his stuff.

Namjoon was a mysterious person. He never really talked to us much, but when you were alone with him he would tell you a lot more than you'd expect. I would sometime see Jungkook in the corner of my eyes, watching us, as he hung out with his guys. I never understood Jungkook. He's either the biggest asshole ever, or secretly sweet when we are alone. I didn't like it. I was currently in my room, look by for an outfit for tonight. I was still wearing my normal clothes with slits in the back for the huge ass wings. I started to pull stuff out, when suddenly Minji called out my name. I skipped into her room, smiling at her. "Yes?" I asked. "Come here! I have something for us! We're just waiting for Soojung now," she replied. She pulled out a pot full of a weird black liquid. It smelled kind of gross, but Minji knows what she's doing. After a few, Soojung walked in, looking mad. "What's up?" I asked, tilting my head to the side. "Freaking Hoseok. I swear to god, he's the most annoying little shit I have ever met. I'm just trying to get my stuff done and he doesn't let me do it! And like he does it just to make Jungkook and Taehyung laugh which makes me even more infuriated. Like fuck him!" She ranted. "That's what you've wanted to do since day one." Minji smirked. Oh. Gross. "Bitch." Soojung muttered. "Anyways, why were we called into your room?" "Ah yes, drink this." She handed us both a cup. Wait, when did she pour this? Ew, it's the liquid. "Whyyyyyy? It smells gross." I whined. "Just do it Sana!" Minji ordered. I gave a stank face, covered my nose, and chugged it down. "THIS IS SO GROSS!" Soogung yelled. I agreed by moaning in disgust. "Okay yes, but look in the mirror." Minji said. Soojung and I gave each other the side eyes, walked over to the mirror and dropped our cups. Our horns, wings, and anything demon related was gone. We looked human. "MINJI WHAT HAVE YOU DONE! I LOOK WEIRD!" Soojung cried out. "I look like a person. An actual human. Wow...." I whispered. "Alright, go get changed, we leave in about 30 minutes. " Minji said. I walked straight back to my room, and continued to look for an outfit. I took out ripped black jeans, a loose white V-neck, a leather jacket and boots. With my hair in a ponytail, I walked out to the main hall, waiting for the other two. I was so distracted by my nails, I didn't notice someone walk up to me. "Why do you look like that....?" A deep voice asked. I looked up, seeing Taehyung. I mentally cursed myself out, not knowing how to explain this. "Oh uh.... so like Minji decided to mess around with potions today, yeah and like uh.... she gave us each a different one and now I look human and yeah, that's it!" I smiled, trying to convince him, just like I was trying to convince myself that that was a good lie. "Okay, cool. That explains why she was in the library a few days back. Well, I'll talk to you later little Sana. Bye." And with that, he walked away. I stood still there, waiting for a few more minute, when Soojung walked out looking like a snack. She was wearing a red tank top, black shorts, a grey cardigan, and heeled black leather ankle boots. Her short hair was let loose and damn. She looked great. "Are you checking me out?" She gasped, mockingly. "Might as well do something Hoseok doesn't. " I winked. "F you." She spat. I laughed, looking at her annoyed face. Then Minji walked out, looking super hot. She had her long red flannel on, paired with her black skirt that was mid thigh length. she also wore a baseball cap and almost the exact same shoes as Soojung. Alright, both my friends are hot. Wow. Soojung / Gluttony Wow, we all looked great. We were now making one way to the portal, trying to avoid Namjoon, the other guys, and the big guy himself. We had successfully reached it, and one by one, walked through it. The cool breeze hit my skin, making goosebumps raise. Did the potion actually make us more human than just our appearance? Hm... Sana ran ahead, overly hyper. Minji stayed next to me, checking out the scenery. "Okay, first things first, does everyone have their little dark fairy?" Minji asked. Sana had calmed down, standing next to me now. "Yes! Miran is right here!" She said, holding her palm out to show us. The little fairy shook her head at her owner's actions. "Sebastian's right here." I said, pointing at my shoulder, where a little fairy was at. "Alright good, i have Jae in my pocket, because he's sleeping." Minji added. Of course he's sleeping. Sloth. "Okay, split up!!" Minji smiled. Sana ran off toward the rides, about to do whatever she pleases. Minji walked to the games and random stands. I went to my one true love, food. I went straight to the funnel cakes, and walked up to the window. "How can I help you young lady?" The worker smiled. I looked them straight in their eyes, into their souls. Two word in my mind FUNNEL CAKE. The blank expressions on their faces told me everything, they were under my control. The person went and put everything on the funnel cake, and then handed it to me. No need to pay or anything. As I sat, enjoying my funnel cake, I was rudely interrupted by someone. "Are you all alone?" He asked. "Yes, why do you care?" I replied. " just making sure I won't piss off a boyfriend." He winked. "I'm Min Yoongi. He introduced himself. "Soojung." I continued to eat, trying to ignore this very attractive stranger. "When you're done, wanna go hit some rides with me or something?" He asked. "Uh... maybe." I replied. "Uh maybe? No. I need a yes or no." He's so damn confident. "No. You do as I say." I said, challenging his dominance. "No. It's my way or no way at all." He stood in front of me, his nice figure towering over me. I can't let him win, but I also can't use my powers. I stood up, glaring at him. "Listen Min Yoongi, we do what I say, or you can go find some other victim to annoy." I growled. With one deep breath, he gave in. No one can dominate me. I started to walk away, happily with my funnel cake. I looked behind me, seeing Yoongi following me, I smiled at him. He glared. Lovely. Minji / Sloth All these games look so boring. While other ones required too much work. What was I to do? I walked up to a game where you throw balls to knock down cups. I saw a cute couple there. The boyfriend was trying to win something for his love. He threw the ball. Knocked the first one down. Then the next. Finally, his last turn. I smirked, watching the ball fly to hit the last. With the flick of my finger, the ball was off course and completely missed. "YOU LOSE!" The stand guy laughed. The girlfriend looked disappointed, while the boyfriend yelled at the guy that it was a rip off. Laughing, I walked away. I saw a stand that was selling cute little thing. I went to see the little stuff, admiring the work humans have put into these things. After a few minutes, I heard yelling. And not just any yelling. I looked up and saw Miran flying my way. "Sana. She's yelling at someone and is looking for things to throw." Miran said. "Shit." I put down what I was looking at and ran after the little fairy. Someone had to piss her off. Out of everyone here, they pissed off Sana. "WHAT THE F-!" I heard. "Jae! Go get Soojung!" I commanded him. He flew off, as I went to go see the commotion. I arrive to see Sana, being held back by two guys. She looked like she was about to kill someone. A few feet away, there was a girl who was giving her a smug, prideful look. I knew Sana was stronger than the guys. She wasn't using her full Force because she knew better than to expose us. Her eyes had a red tint to them, nothing too noticeable. Soojung finally showed up, and we both went running up to Sana. "What happened!?" I yelled. Sana realized she had caused a huge scene. She was still very mad, but her body had relaxed. She looked at me, her tinted red eyes looking into my 'soul'. "I was just walking around, and this guy," she points to the guy on her right, "starts to talk to me. Meet Jin. This is his friend Jimin." She points at the guy on her left. They had finally let go of her, seeing she was calm. "So Jin and Jimin are just striking up a conversation when this bitch," she point at the girl who I saw earlier, "decided she didn't like that. I don't even know who she is. So I had walked past here, with there two, when suddenly I'm on the fucking ground! And she stood above me, about to pour whatever she has in that cup on me. But Jin grabbed me and pulled me up, and Jimin stood in between us and told her to fuck off and then I just, I lost it." She was referring to her sin. Soojung was off in the corner, talking to some guy, I hadn't noticed him until now. I turned my attention back to Sana, shaking my head, disappointedly. "Sana... you can't have outburst like this! Especially not in public!" I got onto her. She shrank back, her normal eye color coming back. "You know what would happen if they found out!?" My voice showed a hint of anger. "Minji I'm sorry! It just happened!" She apologized. Soojung had walked up to us, the guy she was with was now with the two that were with Sana. "Sana. She was so jealous of you. She has a crush on the tall guy with black hair." Soojung explained. "Who? Jin?" Sana asked. "Yes. He's friends with Yoongi, the guy I was with. Yoongi explained that she has been trying to get with him for years now and he won't give her the time of day. So when she saw he was all over you, which you will explain later, she got jealous and tried to show Jin that no one but her was good enough for him." Soojung explained. So it was a jealousy thing. This girl was driving by envy. Namjoons specialty. Does that mean he knows? No he couldn't. We've gone weeks without seeing him sometimes. "Okay, we'll discuss this once we get home." I signed, "just enjoy the rides for now." Soojung and Sana nodded, then the three guys walked up to us. "Y'all wanna get on the zipper." One of them asked. "Oh this is Jimin." Sana reminded us. "The zipper?" I asked. "That one." The one I think called Jin said, as he pointed at the ride. "No thanks." I said. Sana and Soojung also declined. The guys smiled as us , got in line, and waited for their turn. "They're cute." Soojung smiled. "Very." Sana nodded. "Yeah.... but they're mortals." I moaned. Then I saw them get on the ride. They were strapped in, two of them together, the other with a stranger. The ride started. "I would never go on that." Soojung said. "Same." Sana and I agreed. We watched. And then, it happened. All hell broke loose. The ride malfunctioned. The bolts were coming loose, the ride was falling apart. "THE GUYS!" Soojung yelled. She was about to run for the ride, but I help her back. "Soojung... we’re sins. There's nothing we can do about it ." I whispered. Hearing the screams was amazing. Fuck. I know we should be panicking like the other, but I looked at the other two, they had wicked smiles on their faces. Soojung’s little rescue attempt was fake. Just like the rest of the act. The electrical fuse had exploded as the bolts come loose. It was now catching on fire. The pleasure I was getting out of watching this. I love it. I missed this. "I'm actually gonna miss those guys." Sana signed. She was trying to hide the look of pleasure we all felt. "It's not like we could keep them." Soojung replied. The screams were dying down. The people were dying. "What the fuck are you three doing here?" Aw Shit. We got caught.

[Part 2]

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geek-gem · 7 years ago

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Dead Space And Isaac Clarke

Kind of difficult to think of a title that fits. But just saying wanted to make this after OK KO was done yet was on laptop for a bit not much it's 4:09 pm

Basically what I wanted to talk about a few days ago. I had found out Visceral Games the developer who made the original Dead Space trilogy was shut down. That night or something I had watched some videos and honestly saddened. That I even talked to myself about just my thoughts.

I have mentioned Dead Space before just as my earlier text post today in the morning about some aliens and shit. But I wanna get to this.

I've been wanting to make this and now I have the feeling to make it something interesting. Also spoilers for the Dead Space series just in case.

Seriously I really liked the Dead Space mainly the trilogy never played the other games or seen the animated films. Yet I seriously liked the series. Including the 2nd game. But also the character of Isaac Clarke himself.

Seriously Isaac Clarke was a bad ass mother fucker. I honestly liked it that they developed his character for the first sequel. Including when I was in the shower an hour ago or something. I thought about why I seemed to like the character very much. He's a character that's always stuck in my mind.

Including in a weird way I wanna mention I don't know if I should say Dead Space 2 is a masterpiece. I shouldn't but it's because it's the only game I've completed while I watched the endings of the 1st and 3rd games. Yet got far in them a bit I guess for the first. Seriously I was young a bit. Including I kept replaying Dead Space 2 because it had a new game option where I can have all my equipment I had and I loved that. Along with I honestly loved the story and Isaac in that game.

I thought of possibly the reason why I honestly like Isaac a lot. Including why he's stuck as one of my favorites. Is because despite the series being set in the 26th century in a scifi setting he is seriously a normal guy a engineer who got caught up in shit with the nercomorphs. In a weird way I've kind of compared him to something similar like the protagonist's of the Silent Hill games. Where Resident Evil that series the characters are mostly trained for any sort of situation. Yet that doesn't mean Chris Redfield, Leon Kennedy, and others aren't bad characters. But compared to the likes of Harry Mason from the first Silent Hill game and James Sunderland from Silent Hill 2 had to check Youtube for his last name and again right now in case. But those guys were normal people. Including Silent Hill 2 from what I've know and see is a more personal story compared to Harry while it's another story but also looking for his daughter Cherry.

It's a weird comparison but it's something I feel is like that with Isaac. But this time in a science fiction setting. Including Dead Space 2 is where their was the story about the Sprawl but also Isaac's personal struggle.

Including what amazes me and I can't believe I'm still stunned by this discovery very long ago. Remembering reading a YouTube comment surprised and went to the wiki revealing Isaac was 49 years old during the events of Dead Space 2 and 3 because 3 takes a few months after 2. Meaning he's almost 50 when in the first and second I thought he was in his 30's or 40's not mid to late 40's.

While I'm not surprised by Bill from Left 4 Dead who's age is unknown and some of the Overwatch characters. I think I'm so surprised and enlightened by the character of Isaac of how much shit he goes through. While having some narly suits okay a friend sent a photo but the guy is seriously a normal person. Including someone who's not trained for combat. Something similar to the characters of the first Alien and other stuff. Because people compare Alien and Dead Space.

Also seriously the voice of Gunner Wright is amazing and him voicing but also being the model for the character. That I was looking up some videos while waiting for the OK KO such as this sounds video of him from Dead Space 2 just mainly screaming, groaning, and breathing.

Funny thing I said this when I was in room said I'm 49 fucken years old trying to be Isaac yet he never says that. But it does relate to just....I just love it when he swears or just... seriously. Including my favorite line from the series and kind of want this as a meme it's from the ending of Dead Space 2.

"FUCK YOU AND FUCK YOUR MARKER!" seriously I love that line Including all the shit leading up to that.

Seriously some people don't seem to like that Isaac got a personality but I'm sorry or not I fucking loved it that the 2nd game went that direction.

Also let's talk about the games themselves the games are awesome. They have awesome gameplay and honestly scary at times. Including the Nercomorphs these brutal undead mother fuckers that do scare me and are just awesome. Along with how gruesome they are and tough. Including the whole dismemberment of arms and legs. Really I feel Dead Space 2 takes the cake as the most fucked up in the series. It's been a while since I've played the first and the third is a different story.

I wanna talk about the shutting down of Visceral Games and that I even thought about and concerned of me buying another EA game. You've heard their terrible. Along with I remember the last EA game I bought was Titanfall 2 got that for Christmas of last year i think. It's a game I really enjoy but been a long while since I've played it. Including fans talking about the possibility of getting a new publisher please.

Also about Dead Space 3 I'm okay with it. Yet yeah I feel the action direction basically people talked about this and it's maybe similar to that of Resident Evil and how it went down that route.

Seriously I liked the addition of John Carver the other character you could play as. A soldier compared to Isaac who is a engineer. I didn't play the co op because I do not wanna get an EA account. Just okay looked twice tv on yet I wanna say I have seen his cutscenes. I seriously felt like and talked to someone who's on Deviantart and on here haven't followed them. We both agreed and I would of personally liked it if John's personal missions where he's basically kind of going through well yeah the same thing as Isaac in the first two games. Including that it mainly stays to the horror side of things.

But seriously their was some stuff I was bothered by with certain directions they went with. Including that story DLC Awakened while nice but this stupid cliffhanger.

Yet will say would of liked it if you could played as John Carver in single player at times instead of... honestly this co op it's a nice idea just....the action direction and just this one video s gaming Jim Sterling I looked on YouTube. Found this video too this is where I found out about the information but just at the part where they talk about Visceral Games shutting down. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ4eie-e2hc

Including that guys video I mentioned was the 2nd video I watched.

Really I wasn't all that sad at first but then even thinking about it more. Okay I was sad at first. But then I got to think about it more and it just sucks. Basically a video game franchise I liked and respected. Including a video game character I loved I said is now dead in a way.

Including I think yeah I wanted a Dead Space 4 but seriously even a HD Remaster of the first three games because I love those games and I honestly live for remasters because it's difficult to let go of certain games unless you have the system for it. Just yawned yet not everyone wants to do that.

Even today I thought of can we give Dead Space to a new developer or just reboot Dead Space and give it to a new developer.

Yet honestly realistically that's not gonna happen. Including Dead Space is one of EA's games as Visceral Games was built up with EA. But seriously I'm sure I don't want another EA related game again because I don't wanna give them money.

Really it's sad seeing a series like Dead Space go. A series I honestly liked and would of loved to see more games. Including again me liking the character of Isaac Clarke.

Basically during my time before I wanted to try to make this like I mentioned. But also looked on Wikipedia a bit of Dead Space not Visceral Games. Yet I also watched that funny yet nice Random Encounters musical of Dead Space and honestly would love a 2nd part.

Including decided to listen to it's called award winner a the music playing for the Remembering SpongeBob from well SpongeBob SquarePants. Just thinking of Isaac Clarke mainly. Honestly something like that surprised more people haven't used that as a joke but also a nice thing to remembering something you liked a lot dearly. It should be a meme in a way. So without further a do.

Remembering Dead Space and Isaac Clarke.

*gonna find music https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=p6DKzNRdwyI now gifs oh God it's playing the song*

After the 7th wanted to type but wanted to put more. Yet wanted to say for that part I put there 3rd gif by mistake. Including I even said to myself after I found out the news.

That Isaac Clarke in PlayStation All Stars Battle Royale was honestly awesome and I guess beautiful I'm thinking now. Because I'm a fan of the series and the character. Including it was my first DLC I ever downloaded on my old PS3 when I joined PlayStation Network. Now I can't play my old PS3 and can't get Isaac or any of the other dlc characters. Seriously no complete or ultimate edition definitive edition I wanted to say and spell right before ultimate. Also the music rarely plays like that and tried it again but couldn't lol. Now got tags down wanted to share this lol just wanted to talk just okay to smile. Yet sad but just breathe I wanted to talk about this oh stomach a bit my thoughts on this I'm stalling now 13 just 5:13 typing too fast and smiled a bit even now

#dead space #isaac clarke

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summonerwithbedhair · 8 years ago

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Reflections on Final Fantasy XV (Spoiler-Free)

First off, it seems Square Enix has just posted this feedback survey for those who have played or are thinking of playing Final Fantasy XV. And I took it, because a) any chance I get, I will spew endlessly about this game, b) there is definitely some room for improvement, and c) because of the aforementioned points, I’m rather obsessed with this game’s future.

Before I begin, I think it best you know the headspace I was in before I purchased and started playing Final Fantasy XV. First off, Final Fantasy X, being the first FF I ever played, is the standard to which I’ve held every subsequent FF I picked up. I’ve come to expect well-developed characters I actually care about, a beautiful world actually worth saving, and a story that intertwines the two, keeps me hooked all the way to the finish, complete with a major twist somewhere along the way, which can come out of the blue, but has to be decently explained before the conclusion of the game. I felt I had all of that in Final Fantasy X, and when I went back and played VII, VIII, and even IV, though they didn’t quite rock my world the way X did, I felt satisfied at their conclusion (albeit not wholly emotionally drained and bawling my eyes out for the rest of the day - on my 18th birthday, no less - holy teen angst, Batman).

After X I was eager for the next release I could play (living in the internet-less boonies at the time, no XI for me). All the reviews said XII was up to snuff, quite possibly the “best Final Fantasy EVER” (I’ve since learned that they say this every time a new main title comes out). For me, it wasn’t. The characters (other than Balthier) fell flat, the story was way too political, and I HATED the gambit fighting system (which seemed to force me to pre-program commands ahead of time, then just stare stupidly at the screen while all the action was going on, unless I frantically tried to intervene mid-battle when something happened that I hadn’t planned for, and my party was dying left and right). As a result I never finished that game, and I’m hesitant to even bother with Zodiac Age. It took me even longer to pick up FFXIII, and while the combat was vastly improved, again, the characters were boring at best and unbearable at worst, and I was never 100% clear as to what was going on, story-wise (though admittedly watching the cutscene movie on YouTube made things slightly more clear than mud). I did try FFXIII-2, and got almost all the way to the end (before boredom set in), and I do own Lightning Returns, though I’m certain it’s still wrapped up in plastic.

So after 13-odd years of going without a stellar main FF title in my life, I took a real chance on FFXV, getting the limited edition PS4 set with all the bells and whistles (except for a Seasons Pass, so... WTF Square Enix?). I was very leery of it. Even though I pre-ordered it, I didn’t start playing it until the middle of December, and initially I had huge doubts. A Final Fantasy based on reality? Reality sucks. This is going to suck. Then when I spent the first 10 or so minutes with no epic cutscene, just pushing a car to a garage with a (surprisingly good) remake of Stand by Me on the radio and meeting up with some horny male’s tits-and-ass ultimate fantasy girl to fix said car, with no other females in sight, I was legit worried.

That said, once the game gets going, and you’re wandering around near Hammerhead, getting used to the combat system and listening to the chocobros bug Noct about his upcoming nuptials, this completely juxtaposed world surprisingly starts to feel natural. Actually, I feel this ongoing banter between the four main characters was the saving grace of the whole game. Unlike with previous titles, all your three companions are out in the field with you (almost) the entire time, providing a running commentary on either the task at hand (e.g. trying to navigate a confusing dungeon), or, when you decide to wander around for no apparent reason, mentioning the scenery or the weather.

The major surprise for me was Prompto. Though I could sense from the start that beefcake Gladio and I wouldn’t have a lot in common, and therefore he was doomed NOT to be my favourite character, on the other hand, I was certain that I had found said favourite in resident brain, Ignis (though I confess I have a major bias for Brits, and Final Fantasy characters who wear glasses). Noctis was suitably appealing, given his good looks and weirdly charming distaste for his royal status (and “beeeeaaaannnnsss”). Prompto’s position as the goofy comic relief character was almost a guarantee to me that I would like him least (given my history with other FF characters who fill that role). Oddly enough, though, he seems to be one of the most genuine, lovable, and ultimately relatable Final Fantasy characters in the history of the franchise. While he provides most of the entertainment on the journey via near-breaks of the fourth wall (”It’s like a real-life RPG!”), he has his own demons, and his backstory (mostly explained in the Brotherhood anime) is arguably the most endearing and heartbreaking of the four companions. By the end of it all I was wishing I could give all of these guys a hug, because they needed one - and so did I, after the emotional rollercoaster this game put me through. I honestly can’t wait for the DLC so I can spend some more time with these guys - I really miss dungeon-trolling with them.

All that said, this game’s story - more than anything else - had some MAJOR flaws. First of all, the pacing is TERRIBLE. You spend the first 3/4 of the game in Noctis’ homeland of Lucis, and (if you’re like me and you have to do EVERYTHING you can before proceeding), about 3/4 of that time is spent sidequesting. The sidequests are a bit repetitive, though since each is accompanied by amusing chocobro commentary, I didn’t mind at all. The problem with this comes when you’re ready to move on to Chapter 9 and go to Altissia. By this point, the main story has ground completely to a halt, and it’s very difficult to remember what it was you were supposed to be doing. You have about a 10-minute refresher on the boat once you bite the bullet and make the ride to Altissia (from which you can’t actually return, save for via a gimmicky, ill-explained time-travelling trick), after which all hell breaks loose. From that point on, you’re completely railroaded (literally!) a la FFXIII until you find your way down the never-ending hallway from hell (literally!), past the confusing-as-hell-and-not-at-all-foreshadowed plot twists, and on to the final chapter of the story. Which is epic - but could have been up to par with its predecessors had FFXV writers actually taken the time and effort to explain everyone’s motivations properly.

The biggest ripoff of the entire game is Lady Lunafreya. Without giving too much away, she has a significant role in the game, but so little screentime that it’s very difficult to grasp her level of importance, nor why Noctis cares for her so much, even when he hasn’t seen her since they were kids (how do you keep up a long-distance relationship that sincere and enduring when you write one-liners in a book carried by dog-courier and you don’t even get the chance to phone each other, anyway?). Kingsglaive sheds a little more light on Lunafreya’s significance, but given the amount of attention she is paid in all the game trailers and promotional materials for FFXV, one would think she would factor in as more than just a catalyst, but alas, no. I cared more for the fate of the Regalia - the chocobro’s ride - than I did for Noctis’s lady-love. This lack of Lunafreya is something I hope the developers are able to rectify via DLC - even more so than a certain monotonous and notoriously frustrating chapter toward the end of the game which shall go unnamed here (it’s that evil).

To touch on gameplay quickly (which I’ve always valued slightly less than story), I was initially leery of a non-ATB battle system (given my history with XII), but I was pleasantly surprised by the level of enjoyment I got out of the FFXV battle system, particularly the rush of warp-striking. I will confess I hardly ever used my tech points on my allies’ techniques, and mostly barrelled headlong into battle, gulping down potions and elixirs like a junkie if I ran into trouble (though I did pull out the Armiger for boss fights). I didn’t feel the battle system was quite up to snuff with that of Crisis Core (which I guessed it might resemble), since button holding doesn’t have quite the same immediate appeal to me as button-mashing, and I could never quite figure out how to block/parry or dodge in time. Not to mention how crazy battles would get with a bunch of enemies in the fray (the camera frequently got stuck in the foliage). Still, the slick grace with which the chocobros tackle battles, banter and all, was much appreciated, even when I was swearing profusely at the camera to get the hell out of the bushes.

The other hidden touch that I never thought I would appreciate as much as I did was Prompto’s memorialization of the chocobros’ journey via his daily collection of photos. Some of these photos truly capture the beauty of world, others show off the guys’ personalities, and on occasion you’ll get a few magnificently awesome atrocities to save to your scrapbook (one photo I had was an alluring solid shade of pastel green, and NOTHING ELSE - though in Prompto’s defense, it was probably taken while he was writhing on the ground post-badly-aimed-lightning spell). When you get to the last portion of the game and come to realize the true significance of these photos, it’s just another level of loss you experience as the game comes to an end.

In conclusion, despite its flaws, I loved this game. Its story doesn’t have the staying power of VII’s, VIII’s or X’s, and it does have several noticeable flaws, but the sheer presence, depth and likability of the four main characters work wonders making up for these problems. I haven’t become as attached to a set of video game companions since finishing Mass Effect 3, and unlike that game at least, Final Fantasy XV has a satisfactorily fulfilling ending, leaving you with a deep sense of loss when it comes to the end and you must take your leave of it. Too much is never enough - I know Final Fantasy XV is going to stay close to my heart for the rest of my life.

#final fantasy xv #ffxv #review #spoiler-free #video game #final fantasy #chocobros #player survey

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entergamingxp · 5 years ago

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Devil May Cry 3’s Switch Port Pulls My Devil Trigger

February 20, 2020 8:00 AM EST

Devil May Cry 3 on Switch is a solid port of one of the greatest action games ever made and now sports a few tweaks that will allow fans and veterans to push their capabilities even further. SSStylish!

Devil May Cry 3 on Switch is fantastic. Of course, that was true of the game for its original PS2 release and has remained true regardless of what system or version you’re playing on. As such, it’s nice to see that the Switch port is no exception to that rule.

While some could make a case for last year’s excellent Devil May Cry 5 being the pinnacle of the series, that crown unquestionably went to DMC3 previously. Playing it once again now with the new tweaks that the Switch port brings? It is clear as ever to see why it’s still at the zenith of action games even after 15 years. Few other games of its style can match the enjoyment it can provide for those willing to put in the time to master it.

It wasn’t an easy ride for Capcom to get to this point, though. The original Devil May Cry started life as a PlayStation 2 installment of Resident Evil, but the shift in style and tone was evident enough that it was then transitioned into its own title. Action became the heavier focus in combat and mechanics, and the project was given a new name and life as DMC. Dante’s demon hunting adventures and light-hearted, devil-may-care attitude (how fitting!) were well received.

By contrast… the 2003 sequel was anything but. Hideaki Itsuno was brought on to replace the unknown director and try to salvage the game, but it was a little too late. Mercifully, the mistake that is Devil May Cry 2 did not spell the end of the series. With Itsuno leading from the outset, DMC3 returned to many of the established factors that had made the first a success.

“Devil May Cry 3 on Switch is fantastic.”

Devil May Cry 3 serves as a prequel to the previous games, presenting a younger and more arrogant Dante at the beginning of his demon hunting career. From the first introduction to the player character, he’s flipping chairs before sitting on them, mocking his opponents, then charging headfirst into the fray with a smirk and a one-liner.

What follows is a game that presents a grim and serious gothic horror facade, only to completely slice it apart with its own sense of style. Dante traverses a demonic tower and the areas around it, exploring and seeking upgrades or secrets within as he climbs higher. But the bulk of the gameplay is the action. Demons and monsters are scattered all throughout, which you have to kick the crap out. You’ll get new skills and weapons as you go, but even from the outset, Dante feels like a stylish badass.

And style is crucial here! It’s entirely possible to run through the game and not really embrace the systems on offer. There’s a fun, challenging, and ultimately solid and complete action game here for anyone who wishes to partake. You’ll probably get something out of Devil May Cry 3 even if you’re the one-and-done sort of player. However! The game is at its best not when you’re playing just to finish it, but to absolutely style on it.

During combat sequences, you’ll have a style meter that grows depending on how long you can keep a combo going without taking damage or falling into too much repetition. Watching that rank rise from D all the way to SSS is addictive and I constantly found myself trying to push it further. I’m far from a perfectionist, but there were times where I’d want to just replay a mission or try again to get a better score. It definitely invokes that old school arcade mentality of pushing oneself to new heights.

At the end of every mission, you’re awarded ranks depending on how much time and damage you took, or how stylish you were. Doing well and looking badass gives you more currency to play with, and thus more moves to unlock and tools to utilize. The feedback loop of doing well in order to have more moves to do even better with is intoxicating. Further, there’s multiple difficulties to select for those wishing to challenge themselves or replay the game.

In fact, DMC3 is somewhat legendary for only unlocking Easy mode after you’ve died three times. This happened to me in one of the first major boss fights, and it really spurred me to grit my teeth and push on through. How could I take that lying down? The subsequent victory was all the more satisfying for it.

“The game is at its best not when you’re playing just to finish it, but to absolutely style on it.”

Dante has four different Styles that you can select from, each giving you different offensive and defensive options. Trickster focuses on dodging, Royal Guard on defense and parries, Swordmaster on melee weapons, and Gunslinger on ranged. Defeating enemies with a style equipped grants it experience, with level-ups furthering what you can do with them. Additionally, you’ll collect new weapons and guns as you progress, each with their own moves, gimmicks, and purchasable upgrades or skills. Since style points are awarded for minimizing repeated moves, you’ll frequently be switching up what you’ve got equipped and changing weapons on the fly.

This is where the new additions to the Switch port segue in nicely. On starting a new game, you can select between Original and Free Style. The original version lets you select a single Style, two melee weapons, and two guns that you can switch between on the fly, which can be changed during mission select or at Divinity statues. Free Style, on the other hand, lets you swap out your arsenal or styles at any time, even in combat. For those really wishing to push themselves and master the systems on offer, the wealth of options this provides is significant, and a welcome feature!

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Even so, should you never choose to engage in this at all, Devil May Cry 3 is still a solid game from beginning to end. All the inclusions from previous Special Edition updates and ports are present here, also. You’ve got a playable Vergil mode after you beat the game, the Bloody Palace survival mode is available after the first mission (and now features fully supported couch co-op for the Switch version, built up further than the Doppelganger mode), and the gallery is fully stacked from the outset.

As for the performance on Switch, it’s perfectly fine. Yes, it’s a PS2 game from 2005, so that’s to be expected. Despite a few minor touch-ups, this isn’t a remaster or overhaul. Don’t go in expecting something with the graphical fidelity of, say, Devil May Cry 5. Nonetheless, the game ran smoothly and without errors for me on both handheld and docked. The controls are responsive and fully customizable for any configuration of Joy-Con or Pro Controller. I personally had no trouble seeing and reading things on the handheld screen — aside from needing to turn the brightness up slightly. That said, I don’t tend to experience the difficulties of reading small text that some users have reported for other Switch games, so your mileage may vary.

“The very best games in this stylish subgenre of action titles always aspire to and rarely achieve the level of quality that DMC3 attained.”

With all that in mind, should you pick up Devil May Cry 3 on Switch? For returning players, it’s hard to say. The new additions are largely extensions of the combat system potential, bringing additions from Devil May Cry 5 back to its predecessor. If you’re already well acquainted with the game, then it might not be worth going to grab a second copy. That said, if you’re a combo technician looking to take your DMC3 sessions to the next level? This is the version for you. Those looking to take a favourite game for a spin on a portable system will also not be disappointed.

If you’ve never played Devil May Cry 3 before though, I would absolutely encourage getting into it. Itsuno and his team approached development with a go for broke attitude, and the results speak for themselves. The very best games in this stylish subgenre of action titles always aspire and rarely achieve the level of quality that DMC3 attained. DMC4 and 5 may be great games for series veterans, but Devil May Cry 3 is likely why those veterans are fans in the first place. The sheer ridiculousness of the action and Dante’s antics are a sight to behold, whether you’re just planning to see it once or want to become a master. You deserve to see Dante at his best.

February 20, 2020 8:00 AM EST

from EnterGamingXP https://entergamingxp.com/2020/02/devil-may-cry-3s-switch-port-pulls-my-devil-trigger/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=devil-may-cry-3s-switch-port-pulls-my-devil-trigger

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ciathyzareposts · 5 years ago

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Game 337: Treasures of the Savage Frontier (1992)

The game almost immediately reveals its title to be a double-entendre.

Treasures of the Savage Frontier

United States

Beyond (developer), Strategic Simulations, Inc. (publisher) Released 1992 for Amiga and DOS

Date Started: 20 July 2019

Settling into a Gold Box game is like going back to your home town after a few years. You enjoy looking for the little changes while at the same time hoping that not much has changed. The town still has its same friendly character, you think, and it looks like all the neighborhoods are still 16 x 16. The old Irish pub seems to have gotten a VGA facelift; maybe I’ll get to know the NPCs there a little better this trip. Mr. Miller at the armory is still hawking that weird selection of polearms, but he’s got helmets now, too. Oh, looks like MacGregor’s pharmacy got bought out by a Rite Aid–and I hear they have a new “Repair” command that automatically heals all your ailments. Yes, maybe some of those things changed on your last trip. It’s hard to remember. Does it really matter?

Of course, your hometown is always happy to welcome you with all the experience and stuff that you’ve accumulated since you were first created here. Well–most of it. They haven’t legalized weed or Gauntlets of Dexterity yet, so you’ll have to leave those where you came from.

The import process confiscates a few items.

We don’t have many trips to the old neighborhood left. Mom and dad sold the place for a better house in a town called Dark Sun, if you can imagine. They’re hardly ever even home. They’ve been leasing it short-term to some executives from a company called Beyond. Better enjoy these streets–and killing bandits on them via one of the best combat engines you’ve ever experienced–while you can.

I’ve been plucking games from the 1992 list at random, but I’m not sure if I wouldn’t have done it in this order deliberately. Of the three remaining Gold Box games, I think I’ll enjoy The Dark Queen of Krynn the most, Buck Rogers: Matrix Cubed the least, and Treasures somewhere in between. If that’s true, Treasures is a good one to ease into for the first time in almost three years–saving the best experience for last, but not ruining our homecoming on the worst part of town.

I like the setup here. It requires some knowledge of the previous game and the Forgotten Realms factions, but it isn’t overly complicated. In Gateway to the Savage Frontier, the characters were former caravan guards who slowly stumbled on a conspiracy by Zhentarim (the evil mercenary company that rules Zhentil Keep) to take over the Savage Frontier (a long strip of land east of the Sword Coast) by marching an army across the Anauroch Desert (which lies between Zhentil Keep and the Savage Frontier) to the city of Ascore. The party foiled the plan by activating a magic ritual in Ascore that summoned various desert monsters to destroy the invading hordes.

The game map shows that action will take place on the western side of the Savage Frontier, plus the Sword Coast cities. If it stretched just a little further south, we’d see Baldur’s Gate.

Treasures begins a few weeks later, with the party enjoying a picnic in the hills above Yartar. Suddenly, we’re sucked through a portal, arriving on the cold stone floor of a dwarven stronghold in the city of Llorkh. The agent of our transportation is Amanitas, the setting’s version of Gandalf or Elminster, an absent-minded wizard who aids and directs the party.

Why is this spell never available to me no matter what level I achieve?

Amanitas relates that after their defeat, the shattered remains of the Zhentarim fled south to Llorkh, the only city in the region that they still controlled. But when the dwarven residents of Llorkh heard that the Zhentarim had been defeated, they realized this was their prime chance to revolt. The city has been plunged into chaos, with the dwarves against the Zhent garrison and the returning survivors of Ascore. Amanitas hopes that we’ll do our usual thing. Of course, he won’t be sticking around himself. He’s going to return home to Secomber to investigate “troubling reports about strange new events in the Savage Frontier.” One hopes this includes the apparent imposition of slavery on former caravan guards.

I took a quick look at character creation to make sure nothing had changed (I didn’t see anything) before importing my Gateway party, which consists of:

Broadside, a lawful good human male paladin of Level 7

Talldark, a chaotic good human female ranger of Level 7

Ghost, a neutral good dwarf male fighter/thief of Levels 5/6

Alpha, a lawful good human male cleric of Level 6

Eso, a chaotic good human female cleric of Level 6

Monitor, a neutral good elf magic-user of Level 6

Ghost will cap at Level 9 as a fighter, two levels below the maximum for the game, but I guess I’ll live with it. Monitor can go to Level 11 as a mage, which also happens to be the game maximum. If the series had gone on for one more title, you’d have to go with an all-human party, or suffer from very low level caps, as in the Forgotten Realms series.

A new character is pretty pathetic compared to an imported one.

Most of their equipment came with them, save the Gauntlets of Dexterity, some magic scrolls, ioun stones, a Wand of Defoliation, and a long sword +2 versus undead. Still, everyone has magic weapons and armor. An imported party has an enormous advantage over one created for the game. New characters start at around Level 4 with only 22,600 experience (my imported characters had between 80,000 and 140,0000) and non-magic items. My imported party also has, I suspect, enough money in gems and jewelry to last the entire game.

The game begins in war-torn Llorkh, where the ultimate goal is to assault the Zhent keep in the east-center of the city. An early journal entry recommends that, before heading there, you “clear the rest of the town,” thus weakening the Zhent forces and stopping them from sending reinforcements. Yes, we’re still using paper journals. I don’t really know why.

Getting a journal reference . . .

. . . and marking it off in the paper (or PDF) journal.

Llorkh held to the 16 x 16 standard that the Gold Box has used since Pool of Radiance, with another 8 x 16 for the keep. I normally like mapping, but for whatever reason, I didn’t map during this session. I relied on the overhead “Area” map to get around and make sure I covered every square, which isn’t terribly hard on a map this small. The “Area” map still doesn’t distinguish walls from doors, which is something that I wish the series had fixed before the end.

I did most of my exploration from this map rather than mapping myself.

The town had a weapons shop, a couple of inns, a temple, and a training hall, all open during the strife. All my characters except Broadside gained one or two levels during the session. I think I’ll probably dual either Alpha or Eso to a second mage pretty soon. The only things I bothered to purchase were arrows and darts, and I noticed that (perhaps for the first time) they now automatically stack, meaning you don’t have to buy darts 4 at a time until your mage’s inventory is full, then stack them, then buy more.

Part of the options in the armory.

The Zhent forces in the keep include “lordsmen” (high-level fighters), driders, gryphons, ettins, efreet, and hill giants. Driders were probably the toughest enemies. If you don’t damage them, they cast “Fireshield” in the first round, which does double the damage back to the attacker for every melee attack. Once the spell is cast, you have to try to destroy the Drider with spells (“Magic Missile” is a favorite, though they shrug off spell damage about 50% of the time) or ranged weapons.

There were around 20 fixed encounters on the Llorkh map. The accumulation of combats was a bit harder than I remember in any previous Gold Box game, and I found myself really working my various spells, even going so far as to cast “Prayer” and “Bless” in combat, which is something I hardly ever do. My wizard only had two Level 3 spells at the game’s outset. Predictably, I used them for “Lightning Bolt” and “Fireball,” but these went fast. I got a lot of use out of the clerics’ “Hold Person.” Fortunately, the game is a bit too generous on letting you rest, heal, and re-memorize spells just about anywhere. Incidentally, unlike Gateway, “Fix” no longer re-memorizes spells. It just heals.

It’s rare for me to cast “Prayer” in combat. I usually use it as a buffing spell.

One thing that has changed: both enemies and allies can join the battle even after it’s been going on for a few rounds. You suddenly get a message that “dwarf fighter has joined the combat” or “Zhent fighter has joined the combat,” with the new characters taking positions near where the party started. So far, every ally joining has been balanced by an enemy and vice versa. Sometimes you can control the NPC allies (I think this is based on a charisma roll for the leader), but other times they control themselves. Either way, they’re usually more trouble than they’re worth, appearing in the back and not having much room to maneuver around the main party. Plus, if the NPCs are controlling themselves, the pathfinding remains awful and they get hung up on every wall.

The NPC dwarves don’t really contribute much to combat.

There weren’t a lot of role-playing encounters in the opening map. There were a few places where I had options to help a group of dwarves or leave, which isn’t exactly much of a choice. When I reached the front gates of the city in my explorations, the game asked if I wanted to stay and fight or leave the dwarves to their fate. On a lark, I tried to leave, but the dwarves just barred the gate and forced me to stay anyway.

This isn’t much of a choice. I have to defeat everyone anyway.

The one major exception was an encounter in a building where I came across some wounded Zhents and a companion treating them. I had options to attack or leave them alone. I decided to adhere to the Geneva Convention, at which point one of the Zhents gave me some intelligence that the Zhent lord Geildarr was planning to ambush the dwarven leaders while they slept. I don’t think this ended up doing anything for me, but it was still an interesting encounter.

On one hand, the Zhentarim are unrepentantly evil. On the other hand, we shouldn’t stoop to their level.

While few of the other encounters offered any role-playing options, there were a lot of contextual encounters (defined here). You rarely just run into a pack of enemies looking for blood, the way you do in, say, The Bard’s Tale or Might and Magic. Instead, you get some message indicating why the combat is occurring before it occurs. The series has generally done a good job with these, but I think Treasures is offering more pre-combat messages than any prior game. Some examples:

We burst into a room and interrupt a group of ettins and fighters dressing for battle.

We hear a lovely melodic voice coming from behind a door, enter, and find ourselves in combat with three harpies. I can’t remember harpies making an appearance in Gold Box games before.

A building turns out to house a group of Bane worshippers, who attack immediately.

We interrupt a group of hill giants and fighters playing dice.

This is so much better than just going right into combat.

It’s been quite a while since I had a combat system that I really enjoyed. I think Crusaders of the Dark Savant was probably the last. Here, I immediately remembered everything I love about the Gold Box approach to combat: when enemies line up to create a perfect “Lightning Bolt” scenario, or attack in a big cluster ideal for a “Fireball”; when a backstab connects; when my paladin is able to kill two enemies with his two attacks per round; when all three castings of “Hold Person” take effect and you can kill the paralyzed enemies at your leisure; when your casting of “Stinking Cloud” reorganizes the battlefield the way you want it. And every new spell slot increases your tactical options. Not only has this system not been improved upon in a turn-based game, I’m not even sure how you’d improve it. It’s one of the few completely transparent systems in all of RPG-dom, meaning that whether an attack succeeds or fails, whether a spell takes effect or doesn’t, whether you live or die, you always understand exactly what’s happening and why it’s happening.

Monsters arranged perfectly for a “Fireball.”

The opening session culminated with an attack on Lord Geildarr’s keep, a fortress that had once belonged to a dwarven king named Redblade. There was a very large battle with fighters and ettins in the entry hall.

Geildarr himself seemed to appear in a southern room, but it turned out to be only an illusion. After we tried to attack him, we were attacked ourselves by driders and efreet. In a northern room, a brunette sorceress similarly disappeared, leaving us to fight her minions.

Tricky, tricky.

Continuing down into the basement, we fought more guards as well as several groups of carrion crawlers (which can paralyze) in the old jail cells. At the north end of the cellars, I found a fighter giving a speech to his troops, and it ominously ended with, “Even if we don’t hold Llorkh, the plan to divide–.” So apparently the Zhents have a bigger plan.

Next, we came to a room where a beautiful blonde fighter was fighting with a “beautiful” brunette sorceress. At least, that’s how the game describes her.

You decide.

They got into a brawl, and during the tussle, the sorceress changed her appearance to match the fighter, both then shouting that she was the “real” blonde. I had various options at this point, and it turned out that casting “Dispel” allowed me to separate them again. It feels like the paladin’s innate “Detect Evil” abilities should have helped here, but I didn’t have that option. Maybe he didn’t have that ability in the first edition of AD&D rules.

A battle with the sorceress (Cortarra) and her allies–several fighters and cockatrices–ensued. I concentrated on killing the cockatrices first, since they can stone with a successful melee attack. When it was over, the fighter–Siulajia–offered to join the party. Of course, I accepted. She related that she’s the daughter of a ranger from the High Forest, captured by retreating Zhent forces and brought to Lord Geildarr as a “gift.” It’s always useful to have a pure fighter. She seems to do well with a bow.

Given that she’s also the character on the title screen, I assume she later becomes more important.

The final battle was a two-part affair that began when I stumbled into a room and found Lord Geildarr threatening a warrior named Jarbarkas. Geildarr turned on me and first had a giant skeleton and a group of humans attack, including two “Hosttower mages” and two “Kraken masters,” showing that the Zhents are allied with the Host Tower of the Arcane in Luskan and the Kraken Society of Purple Rocks. I suspect my adventures may take me in those directions next.

It’s always great when this spell works.

Once I defeated the initial group, Geildarr himself attacked with numerous “lordsmen.” He was probably a high-level magic-user, but he had only a small number of hit points, and he went down after one “Magic Missile” from Monitor and a couple of arrows from Siulajia. “Hold Person” helped mop up the rest.

The Zhents have allied with Gargamel.

After the battle, Jarbarkas gave us a reasonably long account of his history: He’s from a village called Windycliffs on the Sword Coast. The town was recently sacked by Luskans, and Jarbarkas set out to get revenge, ultimately getting himself captured. He recommended that we search enemies for “any kind of crystal.” “I know not what the powers of these crystals may be,” he said, “but they were very careful to shatter them rather than let the stones fall into our hands. There are three different colors, and no single person is ever entrusted with more than one.”

Technically, I’ve already won the game. It just lets you keep playing and exploring new areas after you win.

I expected Jarbarkas to offer to join us, but he took off after this bit of intelligence. Amidst the cheering of the victorious dwarves, we identified our looted equipment, leveled up, memorized new spells, and contemplated our next move, which seemed to be to visit Amanitas in Secomber.

I guess it’s for the best. Your name is a bit too similar to someone we all hate.

You can leave Llorkh via the gate (on foot) or by renting a boat to go along the river system. Either way, leaving puts you on the overland map. Aside from slightly better graphics than previous overland maps, this one seems (for the first time that I remember) to have some consideration of weather. At least, it’s constantly telling you about changes in weather conditions. I’m not sure what impact these conditions have on the game.

Overland exploration by river.

I faced no resistance on the way down river (I think this is one of the advantages to getting a boat). On the river, it’s impossible to avoid the city of Loudwater on the way to Secomber, so I figured I might as well explore it while we were here. The southern part of the city has the usual shops and services, but we soon encountered a building with a bunch of Kraken Society spies. After we defeated them in combat, we found a map showing a line along a road between the Way Inn, Daggerford, and Waterdeep. “We must break their supply lines,” a note read. “Attack and take Daggerford and the Way Inn now! BEFORE they arrive!”

The Kraken Society note.

A way up the road, a young woman asked me to help find her lost mother, then led me into a building in which she and her “sisters” turned into something called “greenhags” and attacked. I’ve never encountered this monster before. Their icons look like wights, but they’re clearly not undead. In the middle of combat, they “changed form” into two mages and a dwarven fighter. They changed back and forth several times during the battle–I’m not sure what it did for them–but I eventually cut them all down and got a magic ring.

What in the world are these things?

Actual undead are to be found in a graveyard east of town–ghouls and wights. They’re fairly easy to turn at my level. I found no treasure or anything among them.

An atmospheric message as I enter the undead part of town.

The northern part of Loudwater had an “adventure supplies” shop that sold flasks of oil, mirrors, robes, cloaks, boots, and belts. I bought everyone boots, just because, but I’m not sure if any of these items really has any use. They haven’t in most past games.

Finally, while exploring a back alley in the northeast part of the city, I suffered not only my first character death but also my first full-party death. I was lured into a building by the singing of another group of harpies. This time, they actually hit me, which causes the struck character to be “Charmed.” They charmed my strongest fighter and one cleric in the first round. I tried to have the second cleric cast “Dispel,” but it didn’t work. During the second round, the charmed cleric cast “Hold Person” and held three of the remaining party members, who were soon cut down by my charmed paladin. With no one left conscious about to cast “Dispel,” all I could do was focus on the harpies, passing the rounds and hoping that the charmed condition would wear off. I was able to kill the harpies with mage spells, but in the subsequent rounds the charmed characters killed everyone. The party was destroyed, but just as in Gateway, the monsters no longer rejoice.

All told, a satisfying start to a familiar setting. I look forward to playing more.

Time so far: 4 hours

source http://reposts.ciathyza.com/game-337-treasures-of-the-savage-frontier-1992/

#retro games #dos games #retro #crpg #adventure #amiga #oldcomputers #8bit #16bit #blog #repost

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goldenknightswhosayni-blog · 7 years ago

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Everything you need to know about the Vegas Golden Knights

(A beginners guide from the cheap seats)

Lets start with why you should care. You shouldn't. Sports are dumb, pointless and basically a 50/50 toss up between human Adonises wearing clothes we pick as our favorite.

But let's say you do care, and you should because this sports team has a story. Every team needs a good story. Sports are near meaningless but every once in a while, sport and humanity intertwine. The heart of this brand new team is the city it plays for and with that, these silly games have found some meaning beyond the game.

Also, it helps to score more points than the other team before the time allotted elapses.

Well, here we are: A world where Donald Trump is president and professional sports are in Las Vegas. And which professional sport you ask? The only sport impossible to be played in its natural form: ice hockey. After years of rumbles from fans and casino magnates, commissioner of the league and perennial bad guy (or "heal" to use vaudevillian boxing terminology) Gary Bettman

(seen here, looking villainous and enjoying being booed) constantly stated Las Vegas will never have a hockey team, even as late as January 10th 2015. Little did he know, like President Obama mocking Donald Trump at the 2011 correspondence dinner, team owner Bill Foley

(seen here, having money and wanting a hockey team) would take this as his "evil Bond villain” origin story. Two years, millions of dollars and Las Vegas literally needing to freeze over (indoors at least), the Vegas K̶ni̶g̶h̶t̶s̶ ̶B̶l̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶K̶n̶i̶g̶h̶t̶s̶ Golden Knights were born!

(seen here bragging about his fishing trip)

In order to expand the 100 year old league from 30 teams to 31, an expansion draft was set up where teams would have to choose a limited number of players to protect from the Golden Knights picking them for their team. A good amount of "strategery" went into the wheeling and dealing between teams resulting in a club focused on developing young or unknown talent, despite every fan's yearning for a stacked team of huge one year contracts. Bill Foley and GM George McPhee (seen below, having a hockey team) focused on building the franchise for years to come. This led every hockey analyst from Manitoba to Regina to immediately call this expansion team like each they have seen before: a three year perpetual basement dweller in the standings and a place where good careers can go to die.

Flash forward to the 2017 preseason and the first appearance of the Vegas Golden Knights in action. Right from the gate one thing was sure, no one was expecting much out of this club. With arrant passes and broken play plaguing the struggling Knights, the I-told-you-so-s came pouring in with preseason analytics from Saskatoon to the Newfoundland projecting a heart break of a first season. The problem appeared to be that each individual player coming from another team seemed to be playing a different system. Any good plays were lucky bounces or individual skill shining through. The club lacked unity. The last preseason game was played Sunday 10/1.

Then it happened. Obviously the tragic events of Oct. 1 in a verbose recounting of a franchise's start seems obscenely out of place, but hear me out. We all know the outpouring of love and support this community swelled with but something special was about to happen in the world of silly games. The players went to hospitals and blood banks, donating money and organizing events. The hockey community turned to the new Vegas team and pledged to stand with our town.

Then, as if scripted by the most melodramatic sports writer of all time, the Vegas Golden Knights did the unthinkable. They started to win. See highlights from Games 1 and 2:

https://youtu.be/MYEoVlzrhhg

https://youtu.be/k0m4_1FJsSA

By the time the home opener arrived on 10/10/2017, The Golden Knights were 2-0 and looking to make the best start of any expansion team before them. With this touching introduction ( https://youtu.be/GMim4zWN0Bs ) and a crowd buzzing for a win, the Vegas Golden Knights opened the game with the best 20 minutes of hockey anyone could hope for. The crowd, the players and everyone watching at home witnessed a miracle. (Game 3 highlights https://youtu.be/tn3Rpd7S-IE ) Much like the Boston Bruins, Red Sox and New England Patriots did after the Boston marathon bombing, this team grabbed hold of a cause, a community and a goal: to return the smiles to the faces of all Las Vegans. In the first three games of the year, playing as one, heroes began to emerge led by the three assistant captains of the team. (Each NHL team has a captain and two assistants, the Golden Knights have not elected a captain yet. It's as awkward as having three Tennille's)

Here's the need to knows of the stand out stars:

THE HOMETOWN HERO:

(seen here not protecting his eyes by choice)

#5 Deryk “Neither one of my names is spelled right” Engelland (Assistant Captain)

To borrow from the LVRJ:

Engelland, a longtime Las Vegas Valley resident, had the Knights’ second goal in the 5-2 victory. “Deryk Engelland’s not going to score 25 goals for us this year, and the timing was perfect,” Knights coach Gerard Gallant said. “For the speech he gave, and again, I think the big guy looks down on you and says, ‘You know what? This is the way it should be,’ and Deryk Engelland was the perfect guy for that.” Engelland said after the game it will go down as “a top memory in my career.” The magnitude of the goal and its place in the Knights’ fledgling history was not lost on Engelland’s teammates, either. “I don’t think there wasn’t a smile in that arena when (Engelland) scored,” fellow defenseman Jason Garrison said. “He had a terrific speech before the game and obviously he’s local. He’s raised his family here, and I’m sure it was emotional for him and his family, but everyone at the rink was very excited to see that. Those things happen, and they happen for a reason.”

Leave it to Vegas to have a hometown hero from Edmonton Alberta

THE POWERHOUSES:

(seen here remembering he left the dog outside)

#18 James "The Big Deal" Neal (Assistant Captain) Right winger, Left handed. 30 years old from Whitby, Ontario. James has had the hot hand and leads the Knights with 6 goals in 6 games. Neal also finds himself in the top six goal scorers in the league. I'm sure his mother is proud.

(seen here being astonished by his own good play)

#57 David "Don't call him ding-dong" Perron (Assistant Captain) Left Winger, right handed. 29 years old from Sherbrooke, Quebec. Perron only has two goals but second in scoring with the assists attributed to him. Perron has found himself in the middle of some of the biggest comebacks for the Knights. Also enjoys long walks on the beach and quiet talks.

(Game 4 highlights https://youtu.be/Nroit3ow5us)

All this momentum brings us to the fourth game of the season, at which time the bell begins to toll for the Knights. The Detroit Red Wings came into town and quickly began imposing their physical will upon the Knights. Long gone was the hype of the 3-0 as Detroit gatecrashed through the excitement. As the tide began to turn and in inexplicable hockey tradition, a Detroit fan hurled a live octopus onto the ice, causing all of Las Vegas to turn to the one person who knows anything about hockey in the room for an explanation. (A long standing tradition when 8 playoff games were needed to win the Stanley Cup. Eight wins, eight legs, you get the picture.) The curse of the octopus was born as string of dirty hits and fights brought this game to a grinding and struggling end with the Knights down a game, a top forward and a number one goalie. Every analyst from Moose Jaw to Wawa began starting up the I-told-you-so-Zamboni as Vegas folded like a Amish teen at the World Series of Poker.

THE NUMBER ONE GOALIE:

(seen here, hating the sweater Grandma gave him for Christmas)

#29 Marc-Andre “The Flower” Fleury went on to Injured Reserve after finishing the game with a concussion. This 32 year old superstar goalie from Sorel-Tracy, Quebec was a three time champion with his one and only former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins but Marc is so french, he surrendered two of them. All previous wins had come at the hand of Fleury and with many people believed that Flower was back to his old magic. Now with Marc gone and the number two goalie being traded at the last minute before the beginning of the season, a rookie would need to step in.

(seen here break dancing for his Blue Man audition)

ENTER #30 23 year old Malcolm “Yep, actually a black guy” Subban of Toronto, Ontario. Malcom is the middle child of three NHL hockey playing brothers. Malcom has won his first two hockey games, almost unheard of for a rookie even on a good team with months of practice. Malcom had been doing really well up to the third period of game 6 where his weakness was discovered. Hopefully Vegas defense noticed along with the rest of the league that the key to getting the puck past Subban is by simply having someone standing in front of him. Turns out that happens a lot.

Game 5 and 6 highlights:

https://youtu.be/h9sTr3atK5s

https://youtu.be/2Jc77UX-_T0

THE SECRET WEAPONS:

Upon the injuries to two of the starting forwards and the star goalie, two players were called up from the farm team to fill in. Within the first game, both of these players made a huge impact and impression that may see them staying in Las Vegas for the remainder of the season. Like The Who.

(Seen here promoting synergy with management)

#89 21 year old Alex “It's pronounced tuck” Tuch Right Winger who played in college until last year, has incredible speed and is a physical force. Watching this 6'7" monster skate faster than everyone around him is one of the most noticeable parts of his game. One of three American born Knights, Alex is has been brought in to prevent conversion to the metric system.

#87 30 year old Russian Vadim ”If I had a nickel for every letter in my name” Shipachyov was the 3rd top point scorer in the Russian Hockey League (KHL) last year but bear in mind, this is the league that allows Vladimir Putin to play in the all-star game (and score 9 goals). Stolen from the Ruskies, this soviet assassin has a nose for the net and seems finds himself in the right place at the right time, if not distracted by a plot to capture moose and squirrel.

UPCOMING:

With 6 of the 82 games in the books, look for Vegas fans to lose interest at the same rate as the crowd leaving at the end of the games. If it is close competitive team, we'll see a packed house. If it's decisive this team isn't going to make it this year, the stands will empty before the end in order to beat the traffic. Vegas has the potential to do what it has already shown it can, win. With games nearly every other night until April, there will be lots of opportunities for the filling and emptying of the bandwagon.

So where does all this leave us? With Vegas in the top five of the weekly power rankings of league, I guess it's waiting to see with everyone else if this team is a fluke or the greatest sports story yet to be told.

#vegas golden knights NHL hockey VGK goldenknights

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heycolorwind · 7 years ago

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My Gaming Landscape [August 2017]

Man, I wish I could’ve written one of these earlier like I planned to. I wanted to write a Gaming Landscape around the middle of the month, but I didn’t have the time! I was trying to record let’s play videos for my YouTube channel in advance and I had no time. I even gave up on my Batman: Arkham Knight review to do it! In the end, I didn’t have enough time to record all I wanted to do either so that’s all been frustrating. BUT ENOUGH ABOUT THAT! Let’s talk about video games. Sadly, I didn’t buy any games, but here’s the games I’ve been playing this month.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (PlayStation 4)

I wished I had more time with this game. I was looking forward to this game back when it was being promoted last year, when I didn’t have a PS4. I bought it last month from Gamefly and only played it for around two hours. I did the first introductory mission and I was really intrigued by its world. People with augments are discriminated against due to an event that happened at the end of the previous game, Human Revolution, which I won’t spoil. Furthermore, the world is at constant threat of terror attacks. However, the world is very technologically advanced so in a lot of ways, it’s just a more futuristic representation of today’s world (unfortunately).

Gameplay wise, it’s a stealth game but with some FPS and RPG elements. I have to say that the controls feel a bit counterintuitive. The button mapping feels off and none of the other presets really fix everything. However it’s not too bad and aside from that, it feels good. I chose to sneak around and I only got caught once towards the end. You feel really good when you manage to get by a room without anyone seeing you. It’s not a feeling of being a badass but of being sly or clever. The shooting mechanics aren’t the best and that’s to be expected, but they are adequate and they are definitely enough for you to defend yourself should you screw up.

That’s all I can really say about the game. Again, I didn’t play much. I don’t know if I’ll come back to it anytime soon and the reason why is because while I got far in Human Revolution, I never finished it. I think I should maybe play that to the end first then return to Mankind Divided. I’m not lost in the story; the game provides a good recap video you can watch. However, I have Human Revolution and I can have the full context from that game so why wouldn’t I?

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door (GameCube)

I FINALLY COMPLETED PAPER MARIO: THE THOUSAND YEAR DOOR! Yeah, I completed it, not just finished it. Man, that final boss was hard! I died, like, four times before finally beating it. I had to use certain badges to give me an edge. After beating it, I went back to get everything. That meant completing the Pit of 100 Trials, getting all the badges, recipes, tattles, shine sprites, and star pieces, and getting to level 99! I’ll be honest. I used a turbo controller to grind for experience in the hallway with a bunch of bullet bills being shot at you for about a week. Not a week straight, but still. That part was definitely dull, but I just watched YouTube while that was happening. Maybe someday I’ll play through it again with the purpose of reviewing it, but for now it was just my summer RPG game for this year to enjoy.

Mortal Kombat Gold (Dreamcast)

I played this for an Arcade Contender episode that will be coming out soon (although truth be told, I might redo it because I think the quality of my commentary is a bit shaky). I wanted to play this game for a let’s play because I’ve been thinking about this game recently for some reason. Going back to it, I don’t know why as it’s not really a good game. It’s not awful but it is not something you would come back to a lot. It doesn’t feel polished as there’s a lot of collision issues and glitches and the combat (kombat?) doesn’t feel thought out. I was playing primarily as Kai, as that was the point of the video, and he has some dumb special moves. I was thinking of writing a game pitch for an update for this game but now I don’t think it deserves it.

Mortal Kombat X (PlayStation 4)

Not much to say here. I played some online matches for some episodes of the Online Contender. A couple are already up and I have some on the way. It’s still a great fighting game, probably the best of this generation. I’m still learning how to play with Scorpion, but pretty soon I’m going to move on to another character. I wonder who should be next. If any of you have suggestions, let me know on the comments. I plan on streaming MKX soon on my twitch channel (twitch.tv/heycolorwind) so tune in and maybe I’ll be playing who you suggested.

Sonic Adventure 2 (PC)

I played through Sonic Adventure 2 for a let’s play. I did a playthrough for my channel a few years back but I never finished it. I didn’t have the save file anymore so I play through the game again to get back to where I was. One episode is up now and the finale will be out soon. The game is still a good time, even though there are 2/3rds of the game that’s not that good. However, they’re not terrible either and as a Sonic fan, I know I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt. Fun time overall.

The King of Fighters 2000 (PC)

I have the Humble Bundle version of this game and it’s not a great version mostly because of its limited video options and lack of button mapping. I have to play this game with the hard punch button mapped to X on the 360 controller. That sucks. I even tried to emulate the PS2 version for the video but PCSX2 doesn’t run it well. So I played through the PC version for an episode of the Arcade Contender and it was still fun. I might buy it through the PS4, as I think that’ll be a better version (it’s the PS2 version which is the way I originally played the game back in the day) and play it that way. KOF is a lot of fun and this entry in the series is one a lot of people don’t talk about. It deserves more conversation so I might dive back into it once I have that PS4 version. I could emulate it with MAME but I want a Training mode and the PS4 version has that.

Mirror’s Edge (PC)

Another game I played for a let’s play. I started this playthrough two years ago and I never finished it so I wanted to finish it. I played up to where I had left off (yes, the save data was also gone for this game) and that’s when the problems cropped up. I have had a hell of a time recording this game to the point that this is why I didn’t make enough videos in time. All of my commentary for this game is corrupted so I have to redo all of it. That sucks because I did finish the game. I like the game. I think the running and how you have to figure out where to jump to is fun. I don’t think the use of vibrant colors to guide you where to go works and depth perception is a problem. I especially hate the last stage which says fuck what the game has been up to this point and we’re basically going to force you to be a first person shooter now. Honestly, I’m a bit bitter against this game now because of that last stage and especially because of what happened to the recording. I haven’t gone back to re-record it because I feel so burned by it, but I know I will so maybe I’ll talk about it more on the next Gaming Landscape (which will hopefully be sooner rather than later).

Doom (PlayStation 4)

This is the game I got from Gamefly and I’ve been really dragging my feet with it. Then again, that’s because of the recording stuff (man, writing this makes me see how much of a mistake that idea was). However, I really like what I’m playing. I already spoke about it when I played it during that free weekend and it mostly applies here. However, I also started taking my time because I’ve noticed that I really like finding all the secrets. I like going around the levels, filling in the map and finding the hidden weapons, Doomguy figures, and log entries. Also, the hidden original Doom levels are awesome throwbacks. I’ve only gone through four levels but I’ve 100% all of them. I went back and played through the levels again to get 100%. I plan to focus on this game more but we’ll see.

Dead Space (PC)

I played maybe a half an hour of Dead Space for a let’s play. This was a very early playthrough for my channel that I stopped simply because I was scared. I don’t do well with horror games. However, I’m older now. I’ve played through Resident Evil now, something I’ve previously never done. So I’m hoping that this will stick this time. I recorded two episodes and stopped. I’m going to go back to it but playing with headphones was a mistake. I might have to think of something else in order to record it. I only played a half an hour so I don’t have too much to say but it was enjoyable enough. Controls are good, although it might be better with a controller rather than keyboard and mouse. I do feel capable in this game, unlike most horror games. I’m going to press on through. Soon. Eventually.

Clay Fighter (Super Nintendo)

First off, I want to say that for the longest time, I thought this game was spelled “Clayfighters”. Apparently I was wrong. Anyways, this is another game that I played for an Arcade Contender episode and I had a good time. Don’t get me wrong. Clay Fighter is not a good game. However, it’s a fun game. It doesn’t matter that simultaneous hits always trade and The Blob’s buzzsaw move is more powerful when blocked. The characters are imaginative and colorful, they each have a lot of special moves, and it’s funny. It’s a parody of fighting games at the time and I love it! The episode will be out soon. I might re-record it for the same reason as the Mortal Kombat Gold episode but I think this one should be fine.

Batman: Arkham Origins (PC)

Ever since finishing Batman: Arkham Knight, I’ve been thinking of playing this game. I have it on Steam and I just never got around to playing it to the end. I did play it for a couple of hours when I first got it but that was it. Well, I have since finished it and nearly completed it. I got all of Enigma’s datapacks and destroyed all his network relays, completed all of the Most Wanted side quests, solved all of the murder cases, and got all the upgrades. I still need to find all the hidden marks around the city as well as complete all the challenge maps and finish all the Dark Knight challenges. However, I don’t think I’ll be doing these.

Okay. I just want to say first that I love the Arkham games. Arkham Asylum is one of my favorite games of all time and I love Arkham City and Arkham Knight. That being said, I like Arkham Origins. However, it’s mostly because the gameplay is pretty much unchanged from the previous games. Sneaking around taking out thugs, beating the crap out of thugs with that great combat system, rappelling and gliding across a vast city, it’s all here and it’s all still great. Mostly.

Without going on a rant, here’s a quick list of the problems I have with this game. 1.) This game is glitchy. I kept falling off ledges that Batman was supposed to be locked onto, enemies would bounce off the ground after takedowns, dialog wouldn’t play sometimes, the list goes on. 2.) The story is wildly unfocused. The game is marketed with Black Mask being the main villain. Not true. People who have reviewed the game say the main villain is the Joker. Also not true. This game doesn’t have a main villain because none of these guys (also Bane who could be construed as the main villain) are in the game long and consistently enough to be the villain. The story is really just random people deciding to attack Gotham at random points on Christmas Eve. 3.) The upgrade structure fucking sucks. Previous games let you pick whatever you wanted to upgrade when you leveled up. There were some upgrades that were locked behind story events and some upgrades that were locked behind other upgrades but that was kept to a minimum. That has been drastically cut down in this game and it’s not uncommon for you to buy upgrades you don’t want so you can get to something you do want. 4.) There are parts of buildings, especially at the top, that you can’t rappel to. Don’t know why, there’s clearly space for you to climb up to or at the very least hang on to. 5.) You get nothing for getting all of Enigma’s datapacks. Getting a Riddler trophy is not a reward. He doesn’t even contact you to express how mad he is you outwitted him. What a load of bullshit.

Someday I’ll do a full review of this game when I play through it again with a more critical eye, but I want to stress that I don’t think Arkham Origins is a bad game. I played through this game in about a week for almost 30 hours. I wouldn’t have done that if I wasn’t enjoying myself. The word I would use to describe Arkham Origins isn’t bad; it would be disappointing. And I’m going to leave it at that.

Sonic CD (Xbox 360)

I popped in Sonic CD for a little bit because Sonic Mania came out and I wanted to play it but the bills were a lot of money this month because of the air conditioning so I couldn’t afford it and I just needed some kind of fix because it looks AMAZING! Played through the first two stages and that was it. I reviewed it back when it came out on the 360 and I really liked it back then but I’ve forgotten about it since. I should really play it to the end soon. Maybe a let’s play? I could buy the PC version or emulate the original Sega CD version. Just thinking out loud.

Asphalt 8 (Android)

I’ve had this app downloaded on my phone and I just decided to try it out. Steering is really loose in this game. Tilting your phone left and right feels strange. It’s not tactical. I’m not getting enough feedback from the controls as to when I’m steering too little, too much, or just right. Still, it was fun enough. It looks good. The controls are more intuitive than I thought they would be. Maybe I should play it more and give it more of a chance.

Sonic the Hedgehog (Android, Amazon App)

Again, I wanted a Sonic fix because of Sonic Mania and I played a couple of acts on my Kindle and my Android phone when I remembered that Sega recently made the first Sonic game free. I do want to say something though. Phone developers, make all of your apps capable of installing on external memory. My internal memory on my phone is basically filled up. Meanwhile, my SD card still has 20GBs free. Sonic the Hedgehog does this and it doesn’t need to. Please Sega! Update the app to allow for SD card installation!

This post is going to be nearly 3000 words. This is why I wanted to do these sooner rather than every month. I want to be able to say what I think about a game while it’s still fresh in my mind. I should go back to a weekly format. I’ll try that out next week. I hope. Anyways, now I want to hear from you! What games did you play this past month? What games did you add to your collection in August? Let me know in the comments and hit me up on social media! The links are in the side column. Peace and Love, Gamers and Players! Colorwind out.

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